This is evident from data from the Ministry of Finance. The investigations mainly concerned companies in the telecommunications, real estate and construction sectors, as well as the red light district. A total of 83 cases were closed, with tax evaders facing penalties that can reach up to twice the amount evaded. The VAT Fraud Competence Center (USt-BBCC) carried out risk analyses in 135 cases. One uncovered case of cross-border VAT fraud involved a network that traded in mobile phones and reduced costs by not paying VAT. In 2023, at least 28 packages containing cash were sent from eastern Austria to the main suspect, with total damage amounting to over 50 million euros.
Black invoices and kick-back payments
In the real estate sector, investigators discovered black invoices and kickback payments. Construction companies were set up to sell converted apartments and then liquidated after the sale. Incoming invoices from bogus companies amounted to more than 6 million euros. One suspect was found to have made transfers of more than 1.2 million euros and cash withdrawals of 461,000 euros.
Tax evasion also occurred in the construction industry. One company is suspected of having generated “undeclared profits” through uninvoiced payments and incomplete accounting, thereby causing damage of almost 3.5 million euros.
House searches and account openings
The tax investigators carried out eight house searches and seven bank account openings and conducted 109 interviews. After the police reported suspicions in the red light district, examination and investigation steps were initiated. Evidence was secured that pointed to unreported prostitution and room rentals.
Finance Minister Magnus Brunner (ÖVP) emphasized the importance of the investigators’ work in securing public funds. From January to June 2024, 56 house searches and 78 account openings were carried out, with more than 50 TB of IT data being secured.