GRA warns of imposter customs brokers, revenue officers

The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) yesterday issued a warning to the public that fraudsters have been impersonating licensed customs house brokers and revenue officers and demanding money for various services before fleeing.

Reports of the activities of the imposters have been received over a period of a week, the GRA said in a statement yesterday, while advising that the general public be on the lookout for them as many have fallen victim to the scheme.

“Officers of the GRA are NOT authorised to collect monies from taxpayers since all payments are effected at the Cashier’s [at] GRA’s Regional Offices and its Headquarters. An official GRA receipt should be obtained for all payments to the GRA,” it stressed.

GRA added that anyone who encounters these individuals are advised to request proof of identification since all staff of the GRA and brokers are required to carry identification cards during the course of their duties.

Additionally, it recommended that taxpayers note the identification number and name of any individual claiming to be from the GRA and requesting money or any other inducements. “The legitimacy of the exercise can also be verified by calling 227-6060 extension numbers 3201-3208 and/or to make a report or visiting www.gra.gov.gy for the complete list of Licensed Customhouse Brokers,” it further said.

Meanwhile, the GRA also denied a rumour that it said is being disseminated on social media that tax refund cheques not collected from the GRA by December 31st, 2017 would be forfeited. “This is a falsehood - NO such information ever emanated from the Authority,” it said, while noting that it is fast-tracking efforts to process refunds for taxpayers, in keeping with the law and its commitment to employees and other individual taxpayers who have tax refunds pending.