The controls of the SDOE for the confrontation of VAT fraud, the fight against the counterfeit trade, as well as for the implementation and observance of the existing labor legislation were released once again.
The cases of an industrial enterprise stand out, which, violating the provisions of the Development Law, received tax data of great value from fictitious enterprises. Information sheets were prepared and sent to the respective tax services, for fictitious transactions of the audited with two contracting companies, for transaction amounts of total value 22,400,000 euros.
Also, after an audit for money laundering with a basic tax evasion offense in two craftsmen, there was an increase in assets totaling 1,497,783 euros and 4,483,341 euros respectively, during the years 2008-2017. The expected tax benefit is estimated at 1,973,771 euros.
The most important cases of audits during the last two months and their results:
Business address SDOE Attica – VAT fraud
An inspection of nine legal entities, for which there were indications of non-actual operation, revealed that they made exports with VAT exemption, mainly to Italy. In the three years 2016-2018, they issued a number of tax documents to non-existent Italian entities (“Missing Traders” – Missing Traders), with a total value of over 32,000,000 euros, with the corresponding VAT exceeding 7,000,000 euros.
E-Commerce Business Audits
The Agency carried out audits of nine companies, which had developed illegal activity of trafficking in goods on the market, which were either pirated or constituted illegal counterfeiting. The trade of these products was mainly carried out remotely, through websites. During these inspections, a large number of counterfeit products were confiscated.
After a thorough investigation that followed, with cross-references of tax data and with the total utilization of the collected material, it was ascertained the existence and activity of a circuit of natural persons, who set up virtual companies in the name of foreign entities, in order to obtain illegal financial gain. 548 euros, related to forgery, fraud, acceptance and distribution of crime products, and violation of the law on trademarks, as well as tax evasion for a total amount of VAT. 1,395,265 euros.
A case was filed against the persons involved for the above offenses, which was forwarded to the Athens Prosecutor’s Office.
Grant subsidy checks
In the context of audits carried out by the Service in companies, regarding the observance of the conditions of application of the Development Law 3299/2004, the following cases of delinquent behavior were identified:
1. Industrial Enterprise circumvented the provisions of the Development Law, receiving high value tax data from virtual companies. Information sheets were prepared and sent to the respective tax services, for fictitious transactions of the audited with two contracting companies, for transaction amounts of total value 22,400,000 euros.
1. Three hotel units in the South Aegean violated the provisions of Development Law 3299/2004. Audit reports were prepared to the competent Services for amounts totaling 5,800,000 euros.
3. Agricultural Cooperative in the region of Messinia violated the provisions of Development Law 3299/2004. An audit report was prepared to the competent Service for amounts totaling 598,000 euros.
Labor law controls
Utilizing information and carrying out an audit for the implementation of the labor legislation in an office complex in Kallithea, where the Greek and foreign companies were based, the illegal operation of a foreign company was ascertained.
In particular, the foreign company with the object of “provision of IT services”, used an office in Kalithea which employed Greek employees from 2018. The employees had not been declared to the Labor Inspectorate, while the company had not been registered in the tax register and operated without VAT.
The place of business of the company, was initially leased by another legal entity, and specifically by one Bank which had its headquarters abroad. The Bank then leased the site to a controlled foreign IT company to remotely support the Bank’s network.
Neither company had submitted a declaration of operations in Greece, with the result that the Greek authorities are not aware of their activities within the country. Thus, foreign companies avoided any control over tax, labor or other legislation. It is estimated that from the end of 2018 to the middle of 2021, the IT company had a turnover in Greece of over 260,000 euros.
Audit reports were prepared to the competent services, in order to issue a Greek VAT number ex officio. for the two foreign companies, in order to impose the corresponding fines, to charge the evading taxes, as well as to certify the insurance contributions. Also, for the irregular activity of the foreign bank, the audit was notified to the Bank of Greece.
2. In inspections carried out in companies of health interest, four catering companies and a night club were identified, which employed uninsured staff and staff outside working hours. The audit reports were prepared and sent to the competent services for the imposition of the relevant fines.
SDOE Macedonia – Grant subsidy audits
In the context of audits carried out by the Service in companies, regarding the observance of the conditions of application of the Development Law 3299/2004 and the receipt of subsidies & grants, the following cases of delinquent behavior were identified:
1. An audit of an industrial unit in Central Macedonia, which had received a subsidy of 458,248 euros, found irregularities in the coverage of the same participation, for which fines of 352,990 euros are calculated.
2. In an audit of an industrial unit in Epirus, which had received a subsidy of 967,839 euros, irregularities were found in the coverage of the same participation, for which fines of 514,466 euros are calculated.
3. An audit of an industrial unit in Western Macedonia, which had received a subsidy, found the use of canceled and forged bank documents to cover the same participation of the investment and non-continuation of the operation of the unit for the period provided by Development Law 3299/2004 . The foreseen sanctions were imposed and an audit report was prepared to the competent Service for amounts totaling 1,645,000 euros.
4. In an audit of a hotel unit in Thrace, which had received a subsidy, it was found that the operation of the unit did not continue for the period provided by the Development Law 3299/2004. Audit reports were prepared to the competent Services for amounts totaling 214,691.35 euros.
5. In an audit of a food production company to receive a grant, within the framework of a co-financed NSRF program for production of products according to a study by Hellenic University, it was found that the project was not implemented under the responsibility of the company, resulting in the recovery of the received advance payment euro.
Property increase controls
1. After auditing for money laundering with a basic offense of tax evasion in two craftsmen, there was an increase in assets totaling 1,497,783 euros and 4,483,341 euros respectively, during the years 2008-2017. The expected tax benefit is estimated at 1,973,771 euros.
2. From an audit of the assets of a natural person, it was found that the income of 293,809 euros was concealed during the years 2016-2019. An information report was prepared to the competent Tax Office. with estimated tax revenues of 96,956.92 euros.
Counterfeit trafficking controls
In an audit carried out by the Service in a company in the center of Thessaloniki, a total of 3,679 products (perfumes, creams, etc.) were identified and confiscated, which were imitations / falsifications of branded Company Trademarks.
The employees of the General Directorate of SDOE, with a high sense of duty, will continue with greater intensity and determination their fight for the protection of the financial interests of the Greek State and the EU, as well as for the implementation and observance of the current legislation for the protection of consumers, companies and employees.
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