Tax fraud in construction in Aveiro and Ílhavo: seven accused and €2.2 million at stake
The Tax Authority constituted seven accused persons in an operation investigating tax fraud in civil construction in Aveiro and Ílhavo, with estimated damage of €2.2 million.
Operation "Hidden Value" investigates scheme for concealment of housing sales in Aveiro
Seven people were constituted as accused persons in the councils of Aveiro and Ílhavo within the scope of an investigation into qualified tax fraud and money laundering in the civil construction sector, announced the Tax and Customs Authority (AT) this Wednesday, according to Observador.
The operation, designated "Hidden Value", took place on Tuesday and involved the execution of 18 search and seizure warrants — 13 of them residential — carried out in coordination with the GNR and PSP. In total, 114 operational personnel participated: 67 AT inspectors, 12 GNR officers and 35 PSP agents.
The investigation is directed by the Department of Investigation and Criminal Action (DIAP) of Aveiro and covers a set of companies in the civil construction sector.
According to the AT, the fraudulent scheme consisted of concealment of part of the actual value of housing sales, allegedly with the connivance of the buyers, in order to avoid payment of CIT and VAT. The amount evaded by this means could exceed €1.2 million.
In parallel, the authorities found evidence of simulated operations between companies in the same group, materialised through alleged "personnel transfers" not subject to VAT, or intended to conceal actual taxable intra-group service provision. The AT also admits the possibility of pure and simple simulation of operations.
The practices are believed to have occurred between 2021 and 2025, with an overall impact of €2.2 million on tax revenue, in particular in the case of VAT and CIT.
The seven accused persons were subjected to the measure of a pledge of identity and residence. During the course of the searches, evidentiary documents, mobile phones and other electronic equipment considered relevant for proof of the offences under investigation were seized.
Source: Observador