Baden‑Württemberg Finance Ministry warns of fake tax‑audit phishing emails

The Ministry of Finance of Baden‑Württemberg has alerted businesses that fraudulent e‑mails are being sent across Germany, pretending to be official tax‑audit notices under §193 of the German Fiscal Code. The messages commonly claim a "Prüfungsanordnung" (audit order), include attachments or links, and aim to steal passwords, personal data, or install malware.

Real audit orders are generally delivered on paper by the responsible tax office, or electronically only through the ELSTER system with explicit consent. Authentic notices contain concrete details such as the audit scope, time period, and the name of the examining officer. Recipients are urged not to panic, to avoid opening any attachments or clicking links, and to refrain from replying. Any doubts should be clarified by contacting the tax office directly using known official contact information.