" locale-specific: Well-off individuals, settle your fines promptly - scam artists are targeting independent contractors
Revised Article:
Scammers Go After Self-Employed Russians, Disguised as Tax Authorities
Phone scammers are on the prowl, targeting self-employed individuals in Russia. Here's a warning from a colleague's relative who's already been scammed:
- Your income in 2024 appears higher than reported in your 2-НДФЛ form. Pay the fine, or else...
Let's clear up any confusion: if you thought 2-НДФЛ was an income declaration form self-employed people must submit, you're mistaken. Unlike Individual Entrepreneurs (IPs), self-employed individuals don't submit declarations. Instead, 2-НДФЛ is a document issued by an employer or the FNS to verify an individual's income and tax payments, such as when applying for a loan. However, scammers don't care about logic - the more confusing, the better for them.
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With over 12 million self-employed individuals in Russia according to FNS data, they're a juicy target for fraud. Yevgeny Tsarev, managing director of RTM Group and an expert in cybersecurity and IT law, shares his insights:
- Self-employed individuals, with minimal legal and tax knowledge, are indeed one of the most vulnerable groups of taxpayers for fraud.
So, how do you tell if you're dealing with legitimate issues or a scam?
"WE'VE CHECKED YOUR ACCOUNT"
Regional tax offices have caught wind of the scheme to trick self-employed individuals, in various shapes and forms:
- Claiming unaccounted sums are detected on your bank account, demanding a review and asking for an SMS code afterwards (you know where this is heading).
- Representatives of the FNS may demand banking account details, personal data, even while conducting a "self-employed activity check". They might also demand payment of certain "fines" or "fees" - often via a sent link or QR code. Time is of the essence - take quick action or face fines or activity blockage again.
THE TAX OFFICE OR SCAMMERS?
- If the FNS needs to communicate officially with a taxpayer, they'll always do so within the taxpayer's personal cabinet or the "My Taxes" app for self-employed individuals. So, once the call is ended, head straight to your personal cabinet or app to check for a notification - this is the best and safest approach, recommends the general director of the Financial Literacy Development Association, Elman Mehtiyev.
According to Polina Gusyatnikova, senior managing partner of PG Partners law firm, the tax office might call citizens if they've filed complaints or requested something. They might warn about additional documents needed, but they always follow up with a formal written response later, and they never ask for sensitive data over the phone.
- Any "inspector" who suggests paying an extra fee or fine without an official written document is a major red flag, signaling that the call isn't from the tax office. Do not transfer money using phone-provided or link-sent details.
- Remember, any registered self-employed individual (including you) should bear this truth: even if the caller is a tax office employee, any phone call should be followed by an official document - a letter, request, or notification, sent by the same state body, notes another lawyer, managing partner of the Moscow Law Firm "M-PARTNERS", Ekaterina Bespalova. This document can arrive via "Russian Post" at your registered address, in your "Gosuslugi" personal cabinet, or in your FNS Russia personal cabinet.
Important Advice from a Lawyer:
Hang up the phone quickly when such calls come in to avoid psychological pressure.
Pay close attention to calls coming through messengers, be wary of them, don't trust them right off the bat.
Do not make any payments without receiving an official document.
Never disclose any personal or banking data during a call.
These tips also apply to those who aren't self-employed.
WHAT THE FNS SAYS
And a reminder from the real FNS:
- The tax authorities never request personal data, financial information, or banking details over the phone, email, SMS, or social networks. All official requests are made through the taxpayer's personal cabinet on the FNS Russia website or registered letters.
- There are no "fines" or "fees" for self-employed status. Professional income tax is paid exclusively through the "My Taxes" mobile app or official bank apps.
As a self-employed individual, verify this simple truth: even if the caller is indeed a tax office employee, any phone call should be followed by an official document.
KP REMINDER
Any citizen who doesn't have an employer but earns income from their labor can register as self-employed. There are only a few limitations: no hired employees, income only from personal labor, annual income does not exceed 2.4 million rubles, and limitations on activity types (no trading in excisable goods like alcohol or gasoline, or resale).
Instead of income tax (13%), self-employed pay professional income tax (NPD):
- 4% of income if services are provided to another individual (physical person)
- 6% if services are provided to an organization (legal person) or IP
Self-employed individuals do not need to submit tax reports or use a cash register. Everything is handled through the official FNS app "My Taxes" (or bank apps for self-employed individuals), which can be installed on a phone. The self-employed only need to enter data about their sales - the app will send a receipt to the client, calculate income, send data to the FNS, calculate the tax, and inform when and how much to pay.
It's challenging to violate something here, explains lawyers. A self-employed individual could face a fine for not issuing receipts (thus concealing income and avoiding tax payments), but this still needs to be proven. For instance, a client's complaint could serve as evidence.
- In the current financial landscape, the self-employed community in Russia should be aware of elaborate scams disguised as tax authorities, as such tactics are increasingly used to exploit their general lack of tax and legal knowledge.
- When in doubt about the legitimacy of a call or message pertaining to tax matters, it's essential to verify the information within your personal cabinet on the FNS Russia website or the "My Taxes" app for self-employed individuals, instead of providing sensitive data over the phone or through links.
