Raids Due to Tax Fraud with Luxury Cars in Vienna and Upper Austria

In the course of multi-year investigations, house searches were conducted at seven locations in Vienna and Upper Austria. Additionally, 34 bank accounts at five banks were opened, numerous witnesses and suspects were questioned, and national as well as international information requests were made. An audit and the seizure of extensive documents and data carriers were carried out in cooperation with the Austrian tax office. The accused evaded taxes with their GmbH over the years by manipulating vehicle supply chains of Italian and German luxury cars through close associates.

Raids in Vienna and Upper Austria: Taxes evaded in luxury car fraud

Furthermore, part of the business transactions was not recorded in the accounting. Incoming invoices were altered to simulate higher purchase prices or additional expenses, while outgoing invoices were forged to report lower revenues. Through this approach, revenues could be shifted into the private assets of the accused without being taxed correctly. As a result, large amounts of VAT, corporate tax, capital gains tax, and standard consumption tax were not properly paid.

Several luxury vehicles were also declared as supposed demonstration vehicles to achieve a temporary exemption from the standard consumption tax and to deduct input tax. In reality, the vehicles were used as their own fixed assets. The numerous manipulations show a systematic and deliberate action, which was partially admitted by the accused themselves. The preliminary estimated damage amounts to just under one million euros. A criminal proceeding for several offenses - focusing on the committed tax fraud - has been initiated.

(APA/Red)

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