Energy, Estonia, Legislation, Taxation, Transport

International Internet Magazine. Baltic States news & analytics Friday, 29.03.2024, 11:02

Estonian Tax Board catches major illegal fuel business ring

BC, Tallinn, 21.04.2015.Print version
The Estonian Tax and Customs Board (TCB) detained in early April 15 people suspected of illegal handling of liquid fuels, and of tax crimes, as the result of which the state was deprived of nearly a million euros, LETA/Public Broadcasting reports.

Photo: mta.ee

According to the suspicion, from January to March this year, nearly a half a million euros worth of diesel fuel was brought from Latvia to Estonia. For transport, tent trailers were used, which were filled with one cubic meter plastic containers, Northern District Prosecutor's Office spokesman Arno Põder said. The fuel was stored for commercial purposes in places not intended for that and without the appropriate operating license. The fuel was not declared and thus fuel excise tax of nearly 180,000 euros was not paid to the state. Then a company that had a wholesales licence sold the fuel.

 

The Tax Board suspects the company of submitting false data from last August until February this year in VAT declarations and not paying income tax on certain payments.

 

"The company that sold the fuel and its manager are suspected of not paying a total of nearly 840,000 euros in taxes. In the same criminal case, a suspicion of tax evasion of 144,000 euros has also been submitted against another company," said Northern District Prosecutor Kristiina Savchenkova.

 

TCB Investigation Department head Rain Kuus said the fuel sector is one under extra focus of the board. "In recent years we have blocked a number of large-scale frauds, which has resulted in the tax gap on sale of liquid fuel decreasing by a half," said Kuus.

 

As of now, 17 people and 4 companies have been presented a suspicion in the case.






Search site