Dozens of millions of euros uncovered through extensive tax fraud operations in several states
The Anti-Fraud Office (ABB) announced the results for the first half of 2025, which included more than 200 field missions and about 20,000 inspections, securing around 50 million euros of tax funds at risk of evasion, alongside a new government plan.
According to what was published by the newspaper Heute, the office provided detailed examples of the most prominent discovered cases. In one major case that began following a report from the Austrian Health Insurance Fund (Österreichische Gesundheitskasse - ÖGK), investigations revealed the involvement of an Austrian labor supply company in systematic agreements on net wages between 2020 and 2021, primarily targeting foreign workers. Workers were forced to sign blank receipts under the pretext of accounting for financial advances that were never actually paid, while rulings from labor courts indicated the validity of these practices. It was found that part of the declared wages did not reach the employees but remained within the company's management, which is suspected of deliberately reducing profit and revenue taxes. The estimated tax damage was about 2.2 million euros, and the entire file was referred to the judiciary.
In another wide-ranging case, authorities noted a significant increase in the establishment of associations during 2020, leading to investigations that resulted in the dissolution of 26 associations used for illegal purposes. Inspections in the states of Vienna, Salzburg, Upper Austria, and Styria revealed around 100,000 euros in cash, luxury watches, and illegal drugs. Investigations indicate a business model based on selling associations and conducting accompanying training to conceal revenues or mistakenly record them as tax-exempt income.
The office has also concluded an investigation related to two companies operating in the construction and cleaning sectors, following an anonymous report that included information about registering workers as part-time only, despite them working full hours with unpaid overtime in an illegal manner. During a judicial search, a 'black book' and detailed work lists were found, in addition to documents provided by a former employee. The value of unpaid taxes was estimated at around 175,000 euros, and the case has been referred to the judiciary.
Christian Ackerler, the head of the Fraud Prevention Office, stated that the semi-annual report confirms the effectiveness of joint measures to combat tax evasion and the misuse of legal structures, noting that investigations have secured significant amounts for the treasury and protected fair competition.
Finance Minister Markus Marterbauer confirmed that combating tax fraud is a "matter of justice," praising the expertise of the office team that significantly contributed to the drafting of the new package. State Secretary Barbara Eibinger-Miedl also emphasized the role of technology and international cooperation in addressing increasingly complex fraud methods.