WKÖ-General Danninger for "Fairness Package"
After a commission of experts appointed by Finance Minister Markus Marterbauer (SPÖ) presented an initial package of measures for fraud prevention last week, corresponding demands are now coming from the Chamber of Commerce (WKÖ). Secretary General Jochen Danninger (ÖVP) wants to "expand the fraud prevention package into a true fairness package," he told the APA. It is about a "future-proof social system." Support came from the Federation of Austrian Industries (IV), criticism from the SPÖ.
To guarantee such a system, "those willing to perform must be given security" by preventing social abuse. Assistance should only be given to those who truly need it, not to "freeloaders." Every lost euro is missing for important future investments. The Federation of Austrian Industries (IV) supported the WKÖ's stance: "It is important to us to establish fairness and avoid unilateral burdens on employers; rather, it is essential to strengthen trust in the system as a whole."
Demand from Danninger
"If the Finance Minister is truly serious about combating fraud, he must not ignore social abuse," demands the WKÖ Secretary General, who previously served as a politician as ÖVP parliamentary group leader in the Lower Austrian state parliament, economic councilor in Lower Austria, and state secretary in the Ministry of Finance. "Consistent sanctions for deliberate job obstruction" are needed. Regarding sick leave, it is about "reporting obligations and control" with nationwide uniform controls, "mandatory checks in case of suspicion," and generally stricter examinations by the health insurance fund. This is how "billion-dollar damages" should be curbed. Those who are sick should recover in peace, but those who "extend the weekend enrich themselves at everyone's expense."
"Honest taxpayers deserve protection, not tax fraudsters," countered SPÖ finance spokesman Jan Krainer via a statement on Wednesday afternoon. He "does not understand why the Chamber of Commerce and the Federation of Austrian Industries oppose systematic tax fraud being systematically combated." The tax fraud prevention package is about big fish and hundreds of millions of euros annually, representing fraud at the expense of honest taxpayers and honest companies. "We have agreed on this and will implement it with the agreed sums," says Krainer. Of course, social fraud must also be combated - but that has nothing to do with the package. "It should be the Chamber of Commerce's primary interest to protect honest taxpayers, not tax avoiders and evaders."
Increase in Social Benefit Fraud
Last year, according to Danninger, there were 4,865 cases of social benefit fraud, representing an increase of 9.1 percent compared to 2023. Since 2018, damages of 135 million euros have occurred. However, this is just the tip of the iceberg, Danninger believes, with the dark figure likely to be much higher. Sick leaves cost 5.8 billion euros annually, causing up to 8.5 billion euros in value-added losses. Additionally, sick leave days have increased by three to 15 days per employee since the year 2000, according to the Chamber of Commerce.
Since last Thursday, discussions have been ongoing at the coalition level about the previous proposals. These include the abolition of the input tax deduction for luxury real estate and rights of access to the account register in investigations against shell companies. Also planned is an automatic exchange of crypto income within the framework of the EU administrative assistance directive.
By the end of the legislative period in 2029, the Ministry of Finance aims to save a total of 1.4 billion through more effective fraud prevention. The value increases from year to year. By 2029, 450 million should already be budget-effective, which is 180 million more than in the coming year.
(APA/Red)
This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.