Customs Duties: Financial Police Crack Down on Tax Evasion
The Austrian Financial Police have intensified their efforts to combat tax evasion, utilizing advanced databases and innovative methods to detect and prosecute violators.
Regular Monitoring Activities
To achieve their goals, the Financial Police conduct regular monitoring activities, including:
- Large-scale operations diverting traffic from major roads
- Establishing checkpoints at critical intersections
- Employing specialized vehicles equipped with flashing blue lights to detect suspicious vehicles on the move
- Visiting suspected individuals at their workplaces or residences to gather evidence
Securing Tax Claims
The Financial Police are responsible for securing tax claims, collecting tax arrears, and enforcing financial penalties. Their investigations focus on:
- Recovering funds owed to the state
- Identifying customers for attachment, garnishment, and seizure
- Determining the economic situation of individuals and businesses under scrutiny
Regulatory Tasks
In addition to combating tax evasion, the Financial Police also perform regulatory tasks, including:
- Labor market checks
- Monitoring compliance with the Austrian Anti-Wage and Social Dumping Act
- Detecting violations of insurance and reporting regulations
- Inspecting companies, business premises, and foreign workplaces to ensure compliance with various laws and regulations
Investigations and Assignments
The authorities can be tasked by the tax authorities or the Criminal Matters Division of the AFO to conduct general supervisory measures, such as:
- Controls and inspections
- Measures under the Austrian Fiscal Penal Code in cases where there is clear and present danger
Judicial Missions
By order of the criminal prosecution authorities, the Financial Police can also be called upon to carry out investigations on suspicion of tax-related crimes, including:
- Withholding employee social security contributions
- Fraudulent withholding of social security contributions and surcharges
- Organized illicit work
The authorities are working tirelessly to detect and prosecute these offenses, ensuring a level playing field for all taxpayers.
By leveraging their extensive databases, innovative methods, and comprehensive approach, the Austrian Financial Police are making significant strides in combating tax evasion and securing tax claims. Their efforts have sent a clear message to would-be violators: non-compliance with tax laws will not go unpunished.