Ukraine’s Economic Security Service (BEB) published a video on its Telegram channel in which an anthropomorphic cat generated by artificial intelligence talks about how to evade tax evasion schemes.
In the video, a cat wearing a hat with the word “BEB” on it explains that company managers persuade their employees to set up sole proprietorships, with the help of which they “split” their business and reduce their tax liability. BEB emphasizes that in this way top management avoids liability and sole traders have to pay fines.
The video was published after BEB reported on the revelation of a “fragmentation” plan at the Market Opto grocery store chain in the Poltava region. The chain has more than 400 retail stores and is located in seven regions of the country.
The investigation revealed that the company employed more than 3,500 individual entrepreneurs to artificially distribute profits. The role of “entrepreneur” was played not only by students and pensioners, but also by clerks. Although they formally worked on a simplified tax system, in practice they remained employees of the chain.
During the investigation, law enforcement officers seized computer equipment, bank cards, and “draft” records supporting illegal activity. A pre-trial investigation is currently underway to determine the final amount of damages.
Recall that last year, the State Tax Office exposed a “fragmentation” scheme in two well-known electronics chains, which led to VAT evasion of more than 286 million hrivres.
Currently, the Finance Committee of the Verkhovna Rada is considering the possibility of intensifying the fight against plans for “fragmentation” of business, and believes that this could result in a budget of up to 50 billion hrivres.
