In Albania, 61 commercial entities are suspected of being involved in a VAT fraud scheme, worth up to $ 9 million. The disclosure was made by the Tax Investigation Directorate, which then referred the case to the Tirana Prosecutor's Office, which continued the investigation for several months.
Tirana Police executed last night custody orders for the administrators of 6 of these companies, while 5 others were declared wanted.According to the authorities there are facts and material evidence for the registration of commercial entities in a fictitiously manner. In papers the activity of these companies lies in different fields, from import-export, to confectionery, real estate or assembly of power plants, but according to the Investigation Directorate "they did not practically carry out any kind of activity" but were created "in order to attract the blocks Taxes on VAT, issuing VAT receipts, thus fictitious sales to third parties, thus enabling the VAT credit of the purchase."
According to the authorities these entities in cooperation with each other have consumed at least four criminal offenses "Fraud Scheme with regard to Value Added Tax", "Concealment of Income", "Non - Payment of Taxes" and "Falsification of the stamps or forms."