Aussies warned about tax scammers

Accountants are warning Australians about an increase in tax-related phone scams.

Scammers are contacting people requesting bank account details and demanding payment for non-existent tax debts.

Multiple aggressive attempts and threats of immediate arrest and imprisonment are being made to taxpayers, Director of Tax Communications at H&R Block Mark Chapman says.

The ATO does make thousands of calls to taxpayers each week, but second commissioner Geoff Leeper says the tax office would never call about debts.

"We would never cold call you about a debt, we would never threaten jail or arrest, and our staff certainly wouldn't behave in an aggressive manner," Mr Leeper said in a statement.

The ATO said taxpayers should never send money or give financial details to someone they don't know and trust.