The Office of the Principal Chief Commissioner of Central Tax, Bengaluru Zone issued Trade Notice No. 02/2026 warning trade and industry about incidents of individuals impersonating Central GST officers. The notice clarifies that CGST officers do not demand payments in cash or through personal bank accounts, UPI IDs, wallets, or other unofficial channels, and they do not seek personal or sensitive information through phone calls, SMS, WhatsApp, or personal email. Official communications are made only through the GST portal, government email IDs ending with “@gov.in,” or notices and summons bearing a valid Document Identification Number (DIN). Inspection, search, and seizure proceedings are conducted under Section 67 of the CGST Act, 2017 only by properly authorized officers carrying government photo identification and written authorization specifying details of the premises and taxpayer. Taxpayers are advised to verify officers’ identity cards, written authorization, and DIN before allowing entry. Trade associations have been requested to widely publicize the advisory to prevent fraudulent activities.
I/4085879/2026
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Revenue
OFFICE OF THE PRINCIPAL CHIEF COMMISSIONER OF CENTRAL TAX,
BENGALURU ZONE, C.R. BUILDING, QUEEN’S ROAD, BENGALURU–560001.
Office email :- ccbz-excise@nic.in Section email :- bzpcco-technical@gov.in
C.No. GCCO/TECH/PN/9/2020-S AND I
Trade Notice No. 02/2026
Date: As per E-signature
Subject: Advisory to Trade and Industry regarding impersonation of GST officers and procedure to be followed during inspection / search proceedings – reg.
Some incidents have been observed in this Zone that certain unscrupulous persons have allegedly impersonated as Central GST officers.
It is hereby clarified that officers of the CGST department
- Do not demand any payment in cash or through personal bank accounts, UPI IDs, Wallets or other unofficial modes
- Do not seek any personal or sensitive information over phone calls, SMS, WhatsApp or personal email IDs
- The CGST officers communicate officially only through the GST common portal (www.gst.gov.in), official departmental email IDs (ending with “@gov.in”), or through duly issued notices / summons bearing Document Identification Number (DIN), wherever applicable
3. Inspection, Search and Seizure proceedings are under Section 67 of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017and the rules made thereunder. Such proceedings can be conducted only by the “proper officer ” duly authorized in writing by the competent authority. The authorized officer is required to carry a valid government photo ID card along with the written authorization specifying the name and designation of the officer (s), name and address of the premises to be inspected / searched and the GSTIN of the registered person, wherever applicable.
4. All registered persons are advised that before permitting entry for inspection or search, they may verify the official photo ID card of each officer and written authorization issued by the competent authority. In case of any doubt, regarding the identity of the officers or authenticity of the authorization, the taxpayer may immediately contact the respective jurisdictional office of the of Principal Commissioner / Commissioner of Central Tax or Additional / Joint Commissioner of Central Tax (Vigilance) PCCO, Bengaluru Central Tax (080-22867093). Any official communication by the Department to the taxpayer is always validated with a unique Document Identification Number (DIN) which can be verified at https://esanchar.cbic.gov.in/DIN/DINSearch. Trade is advised to verify the DIN mentioned on the inspection / search authorization. It is also sensitized that documents issued through the public option in the e-office system do not require a separate Document Identification Number. The unique “Issue Number” generated by e-office is valid DIN and can be verified online at https://verifydocument.cbic.gov.in.
5. Trade associations and Chambers of Commerce are requested to give wide publicity to this trade notice among their members to ensure awareness and prevent such fraudulent incident. Difficulties, if any, in respect of this trade notice may be brought to the notice of this office.
6. All the Pr. Commissioners / Commissioners are requested to bring the contents of the Trade Notice to the Notice of all the officers working under their charge and taxpayers falling under your jurisdiction.
Yours faithfully,
INDIRA PRIYADARSHINI
ADDITIONAL COMMISSIONER
PCCO, BENGALURU
Copy submitted to:
1. The Chief Commissioner of Customs, Bengaluru Zone.
2. The Commissioner of Commercial Taxes, Karnataka.
3. The Principal Commissioner/Commissioner, Bengaluru South, North, East, West and North-West, Belagavi, Mangaluru and Mysuru CGST Commissionerates, for giving wide publicity and circulating amongst all the Trade Associations falling under their jurisdiction.
4. The Principal Commissioner / Commissioner, Audit and Appeals Commissionerates
5. All the Members of Grievance Redressal Committee
6. Bengaluru East CGST Commissionerate, with request for uploading on CGST Bengaluru Zonal Website
