Vienna sounds the alarm: Ministry of Finance hunts fraudulent animal traders!

Vienna sounds the alarm: Ministry of Finance hunts fraudulent animal traders!

A joint initiative between the Ministry of Finance and the veterinary office of the city of Vienna is showing initial successes in the fight against tax evasion in the animal trade. This cooperation has been intensified and has been pursued for 1.5 years, with the initial results showing clear successes in uncovering illegal activities.

As part of this cooperation, numerous cases of tax evasion were uncovered, which led to fines and charges. The joint approach was launched in the summer of 2023 and aims to identify hidden income from the sale of dog and cat puppies.

Efficient control mechanisms

The veterinary office receives many reports every year about the animal trade in Vienna, in particular suspicions of unlawful enrichment. Information about the profitable sale of puppies is forwarded to the tax office for further verification. Sellers who had not reported taxable income have already had to pay back taxes and penalties of up to 9,000 euros.

What is particularly worrying is that some breeders received welfare benefits and supplemented their income through illegal animal breeding, which resulted in charges of welfare fraud. The agreement between the offices also includes joint controls to specifically screen sellers and prevent potential fraud.

Illegal animal sales under control

After Animal Welfare Act The sale of animals in publicly accessible places or over the Internet is restricted. Exceptions only apply to registered breeders and reputable brokerage platforms. According to official information, suspicious dealers are identified when animals are handed over under questionable circumstances, such as in parking lots or when visits to the animals are refused before handover.

The city of Vienna has recently stepped up measures to crack down on the illegal puppy trade and the common health problems associated with cheaply imported animals. Often such animals are too young and do not meet legal requirements, leading to high veterinary costs and significant concerns for their welfare.

Involve the public

Citizens are encouraged to report suspicious activity. Institutions such as the Department of Veterinary Office and Animal Welfare (MA 60) should be informed of the name of the seller, their address, the time of the trade and the type and number of animals sold. Such reports help to inform the authorities about illegal practices and to ensure the protection of animals and compliance with legal requirements.

With these measures, Vienna is leading the way in Austria and plans to expand successful cooperation at the national level in order to take greater action against illegal animal trade and tax evasion.