Investigators have carried out raids in the federal states of Hamburg, Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria to crack down on tax evasion in online trading. According to the public prosecutor’s office in Kassel, the companies involved have caused tax damage of about 27.5 million euros since 2016. The companies affected by the raid are Spanish and Portuguese companies. They allegedly sold electronics via various online marketplaces in Germany, but did not pay tax on the revenues generated.
According to information, the six companies are said to have grossed more than one hundred million euros through their online shops. The investigations focus on a total of eight defendants who are accused of tax evasion or aiding and abetting it. These are six men and two women who worked as managing directors and executives in the companies concerned.
The raid was aimed at investigating companies that are active in online trade and may have evaded VAT.
The investigators announced that the searches took place as early as November last year and lasted several days in some cases. The action was part of a Europe-wide search coordinated by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office.
In Germany, the searches mainly focused on the business premises of suppliers, transport and forwarding companies involved in the supply chains. The investigation of the seized evidence is still in full swing.
The cooperation at the European level shows that combating tax evasion is a common priority and that the authorities involved are determined to take action against this type of criminal activity.
