NEWS | SDC

February 15, 2015

Austria: Tax Reform Commission Report to fight shadow economy

Specially formed action team handed over the 200-page report on the tax gap caused by tax evasion to the Austrian Government Officials. Report emphasises the scope of frauds carried out on cash registers and suggests standardisation of invoicing systems to fight shadow economy.

This practice, which is now exercised in most developed economies, requires such detailed report to serve Ministry as a launching pad for tax reforms. Given the arguments made here, politicians are left with no options to oppose, Austria is on its way to fiscalization.

Germany: Tax Zapper found, maker of “AriadneNT” fined € 1,639,652.55

A combined efforts of international and domestic tax investigators examining ice cream parlour have proven that manipulations with zapper were carried out since December 2003, which led to a significant reduction of actual sales.

A manipulation program used for this reduction is a game module found in the POS system made by AriadneNT, activated using USB-stick was a password-based file called “Asteroids.exe” (the password was later uncovered by the state police).

Tax loss = €2.69 million

To learn more about this case visit HERE

January 26, 2015

SPAIN: AEAT storms multiple sites to prevent organised tax evasion

SPANISH Tax Agency (AEAT) has launched a crusade against zappers, which allow taxpayers to easily hide accounting records.

In December 2014, a special task force with AEAT technicians uncovered the complex fraudulent practices in a chain of Italian restaurants. 70 officials from 8 regional offices, along with police officers simultaneously stormed 15 sites where chain operated throughout Spain. Such organised action was necessary to prevent POS software operators to erase tax records and thus destroy tax evasion evidence.

The action uncovered a sophisticated system designed to fictitiously reduce revenue from restaurants through a software application that produces double set of books. The operation “Pasta Fresca” (Fresh Pasta) allowed AEAT to break into system matrix installed by the order of Italian franchise owned corporation. The name of the restaurants is not disclosed due to ongoing investigation.

Romania: Upgrade to electronic journal and online tax lottery

Legislation upgrade to Cash registers equipped with electronic journal which connects to a database of NAFA (Romanian Tax Agency), was approved December 2014 by the Government.

Ministry shows benefit of the new system (devices equipped with electronic journal) brings traders to eliminate paper rolls acquisition costs (average economy / year / unit in operation ≈ 150 euro) and their storage obligation for a 2 year period.

The Ministry has also announced its intention to establish an online tax lottery with cash prizes for holders of tax receipts. According to the ministry, monthly 160 prizes will be awarded for each NAFA region, with expected value of each prize 1,200 lei (350 USD).

December 23, 2014

New York: Congressman Grimm pleads guilty to tax evasion

Associated press reports: U.S. Rep. Michael Grimm admitted Tuesday to federal tax evasion, pleading guilty to charges he had fought as he won re-election last fall but that now leave his congressional future in question.

Grimm entered a guilty plea to one count of aiding in the filing of a false tax return. He had been set to go to trial in February on charges of evading taxes by hiding more than $1 million in sales and wages while running a Manhattan health-food restaurant.