Main points
- In the Lviv region, a local resident was engaged in an illegal business, selling collectible coins for cash without paying taxes.
- During the searches, a record amount of money was found in his possession.
BEB covered up illegal business / Collage by Channel 24, illustrative photo by Depositphotos, BEB
In the Lviv region, a local resident was engaged in illegal business, without declaring profits and without paying taxes. BEB detectives exposed the numismatist.
What is known about the tax evasion case in the Lviv region?
Detectives from the Bureau of Economic Security have brought the tax evasion case to a conclusion, and the state has already received back over 13 million hryvnias, the BEB reported.
According to the investigation, in 2024, a local resident actively sold collectible coins for cash. He received the money, but did not show it in his tax returns. As a result, the budget received more than 13 million hryvnias in tax and military levy.
During the search, law enforcement officers found a considerable “cash” – 67 million hryvnias in various currencies. According to the investigation, these funds were proceeds from the sale of coins and were also not included in the reporting.
As a result, the numismatist was suspected of tax evasion in particularly large amounts. However, during the investigation, he fully compensated the state for the losses. Now a petition has been filed with the court to release him from criminal liability.
Money seized from a numismatist / photo BEB
What are the fines for tax evasion and how are businesses punished?
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Intentional tax evasion in Ukraine entails large fines, restrictions on the right to hold office, and confiscation of property. So, if the underpayment is 85 thousand hryvnias or more, the fine can reach even 170 thousand hryvnias or more.
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In total, the shadow economy in Ukraine causes budget losses of up to 1 trillion hryvnia, mostly due to salaries in envelopes, smuggling, and excise trade. Salaries in envelopes cause budget losses of 140-280 billion hryvnia, and “gray imports” and smuggling – 120-185 billion hryvnia.
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For example, in February, the tax service discovered 10 well-known retail chains that used “business splitting” schemes for 800 individual entrepreneurs to evade taxes by 1 billion hryvnia. The materials were transferred to the Bureau of Economic Security of Ukraine, where pre-trial investigations are underway.