Tyrolean restaurateur has to pay back 286,000 euros for tax evasion!

Tyrolean restaurateur has to pay back 286,000 euros for tax evasion!

A Tyrolean restaurateur is at the center of a tax evasion amounting to 230,000 euros that took place via online platforms. According to current information from OTS The 40-year-old did not declare his sales from online orders in his tax returns, which ultimately led to an audit. This took place through the transmission of platform data by the tax authorities.

Since January 1, 2020, operators of online platforms have been obliged to submit comprehensive sales data to the tax authorities. This includes not only the identity of the seller and bank details, but also the amount of sales and a detailed description of the goods traded. The transmitted data enables the tax administration to check proper taxation.

Additional information about reporting requirements

How Ecovis reported, online platforms such as Amazon or Airbnb have also had to report their users' sales to the tax authorities since 2023. This happens within the framework of the Platform Tax Transparency Act (PStTG), which implements the EU Directive DAC7. The aim is to detect bogus private sales and ensure that taxpayers correctly declare their internet sales.

The reporting requirement applies above a certain number of sales or a certain amount of sales, which puts further pressure on sellers to accurately fulfill their tax obligations. When the platform data was checked, it turned out that the Tyrolean restaurateur had cheated significantly.

Financial consequences and self-disclosure

The entrepreneur in question submitted a voluntary disclosure before the audit measures began. However, it was discovered that he had still evaded 230,000 euros in taxes, which was determined by comparing the platform data with his tax returns. Due to the provisions of financial criminal law, the restaurateur now has to pay around 286,000 euros, although this sum also includes late payment surcharges and interest.

Finance Minister Markus Marterbauer emphasizes the importance of tax honesty and emphasizes the negative effects of tax fraud on society. In addition, operators of digital platforms must ensure that they collect data in accordance with the law in order not to get into legal trouble themselves, as stated in a report by EY is noted.

The responsibility now lies not only with taxpayers, but also with platform operators, who must regularly check the accuracy of their sellers' needs. Developments in this area underline the importance of adhering to the new legal requirements in order to avoid possible financial and legal consequences.