Massive investigation into dozens of delivery firms, damages exceed 23 million lei

Romanian anti-fraud inspectors have uncovered a large-scale tax evasion scheme involving more than 50 companies operating in the home delivery sector. The network allegedly defrauded the state of over 23 million lei (approximately $4.7 million USD) by illicitly avoiding taxes and contributions.

The scheme, which began operating in 2023, involved a complex, five-tier structure of companies. Revenue generated from delivery services was successively transferred through these entities to obscure the ultimate beneficiaries and reduce tax liabilities. This intricate financial circuit was designed to move funds away from the companies that earned the income, allowing for subsequent withdrawal in cash.

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The fraud scheme was structured on five tiers of companies, so that the proceeds from the delivery activity were successively transferred until the traceability of the real beneficiaries was lost.

Investigators from the National Agency for Fiscal Administration (ANAF) identified that the fraud included undeclared profit tax, VAT, and salary contributions. The network exploited companies with no real economic activity to fragment financial flows and create a facade of legitimacy. "The fraud scheme was structured on five tiers of companies, so that the proceeds from the delivery activity were successively transferred until the traceability of the real beneficiaries was lost," stated an ANAF press release.

Furthermore, the investigation revealed that a significant portion of the delivery work was carried out by hundreds of individuals not registered with employment contracts. This practice further damaged the state budget through unpaid taxes and mandatory social contributions. Multiple addresses in Timișoara and Bucharest were repeatedly used as fiscal domiciles for numerous involved companies, despite lacking any genuine economic activity at these locations, leading investigators to characterize them as "ghost" entities.

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The circuit was created so that the funds were moved away from the companies generating the revenues and subsequently withdrawn in cash. Regarding tax obligations, they were reduced by using companies without real economic activity and by illegally deducting VAT.