After inconsistencies were detected between purchases reported by taxpayers and sales that the company declared to the tax authority, an investigation was initiated in Guatemala into the "La Barata" supermarket chain.
During the morning of December 7, representatives of the Public Ministry (MP) and the Superintendence of Tax Administration (SAT), held a press conference in which they explained some details about a new case of alleged tax fraud by the chain of stores "La Barata."
The amount paid to the Tax Authority corresponds to unpaid taxes, plus penalties and interest.
An article on Lahora.gt reports that the Superintendent of the SAT, Juan Francisco Solorzano, said that "... It is the largest payment made by any entity, in relation to adjustments that had been made or that had been ordered as a result of a judicial process from which it was ruled that there was tax fraud or tax evasion. "
On average in Costa Rica more than one in five companies classified as Large Taxpayers do not pay taxes.
EDITORIAL COMMENT:
When the Tax Department does not fully complete its duties, competition between companies is settled not by the quality of products or services, or for the excellence of its managerial staff and their strategic direction, but for the ability of their tax advisors to reduce the amount of taxes paid.
"Of the total potential tax collection from VAT, only 50% is charged, with 19% being lost from exemptions and tax schemes, many without justification, while the remaining 30% is lost through evasion charges."
The Superintendency of Tax Administration (SAT) is launching the Massive Fiscal Presence plan to verify tax obligations, under which 200 auditors will make visits to various production facilities. The aim is to check that these are complying with their tax obligations.
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development has released a plan for the design of international standards to prevent abuse of rules such as the one that lets companies avoid paying taxes in two countries.
Nacion.com reports that "The secretary general of the OECD, Miguel Angel Gurría, accompanied by the G20 finance ministers, today in Moscow presented an ambitious plan to combat the shortcomings of countries tax systems and halting tax evasion by multinationals. "
So far this year one hundred businesses have been closed and another 1,200 are being targeted by the authorities because of invoicing problems.
Siglo21.com.gt reports that "the head of the Tax Authority (SAT), Miguel Gutierrez, said that so far this year, 100 businesses have been closed temporarily and at least 1,200 are under observation, all of them for billing problems or because they did not deliver invoices to their customers. "
98.28% of surveyed businessmen opposed increased taxes and a potential tax reform.
The survey was conducted by the Chamber of Commerce of Guatemala, and included managers and business owners of the agricultural, commercial, industrial and service sectors.
The Guatemalan Superintendent of the Tax Administration is investigating income tax return irregularities.
Since the month of April, the Superintendent of the Tax Administration (SAT) has been reviewing Guatemalan bookkeepers who manage and submit the financial statements for the accounts of more than 215,000 businesses.
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