MP raids properties following SAT complaint for alleged tax fraud

Justice

Case B410: MP raids properties following SAT complaint for alleged tax fraud

The MP reported a series of raids in different areas of the capital due to a case of possible tax fraud reported by the SAT.

The MP carried out seven raids in different areas of the capital, for a case of possible tax fraud. (Photo Prensa Libre: MP)

He Public Prosecutor’s Office (MP) reported that this Friday, August 16, the Economic Crimes Prosecutor’s Office carried out operations in different areas of the capital in follow-up to a complaint filed by the Superintendence of Tax Administration (SAT) of a possible tax evasion case known as B410.

He indicated that the Economic Crimes Prosecutor’s Office carried out seven search, inspection, registration and seizure of evidence proceedings in properties located in zones 5, 7, 9, and 15 of the capital.

According to the MP, these actions are to gather evidence related to the creation of companies linked to simulation in the acquisition of services.

The investigation comes after Superintendent Marco Livio Díaz revealed on Wednesday, August 14, a network of companies that allegedly evaded taxes.

The Superintendent’s Complaint

On Wednesday, August 14, it was reported that the SAT detected a structure of tax evasion with the participation of hundreds of companies, a case that he called B410.

In the complaint, the superintendent indicated that the network had billed Q6.4 billion from 2021 to 2023.

“It is estimated that the possible fraud It reaches Q300 million according to the cases documented to date, but could add another Q800 million as the investigation continues,” said Díaz.

Signs and mode of operation

• The SAT reported that, as a result of the use of various auditing tools available to the entity and the use of the relationship module, it was possible to determine that these 410 companies have several similarities, such as:
• More than 200 companies were identified with registered offices at the address 33 Calle “C” 10-16, Zona 7 Colonia Bamvi, but that address does not exist, according to the SAT
• 410 have the same Guatemalan legal representative and partner, established in Belize.
• 75% of these companies were incorporated by the same notary.
• More than one hundred companies shared the same Accounting Expert, who when located indicated that they had registered him without his consent, filing the corresponding complaint with the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
• This information allowed us to establish the operating behavior of Structure B410, based on the registration of the same legal representative and accountant and tax addresses not located, mainly in red zones.
• Altered documents are detected, modifying addresses and other data in documents presented by companies.
• More than 200 companies do not present evidence of having the necessary infrastructure for the development of their activities.
• And in some cases there is alteration of documents for registrations with the SAT, as well as under-declarations.

Between 2021 and 2023, sales of this structure according to the Online Electronic Invoice (FEL) records amounted to Q5.73 billion, but it only paid Q26.9 million in taxes between the value added tax (VAT) and income tax (ISR).

Of that amount, Q2,186 million would be the total sales between the same group and Q3,544 would be sales to others. Meanwhile, it is estimated that in the first half of this year they would have invoiced another Q714 million, which would reach the Q6,400 million indicated by the SAT.