Fuel scheme worth UAH 17 million: ESBU in the Kyiv region exposes tax evasion

 Detectives of the Territorial Office of the Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine in the Kyiv region have exposed a tax evasion scheme in the fuel sector. As a result of these illegal activities, nearly UAH 17 million failed to reach the state budget.

The investigation established that the company was engaged in the sale of solid, liquid, and gaseous fuels. To minimize tax liabilities, company officials generated fictitious expenses. Specifically, their financial reporting reflected the purchase of goods and services from 'shell' enterprises that existed only on paper. Through these activities, the company artificially inflated its expenses and improperly claimed tax benefits.

Furthermore, a significant portion of the fuel was sold for cash without being recorded in the accounting books. This allowed the company to hide real income and avoid paying Value Added Tax (VAT) in full.

The total amount of damages caused to the state stands at nearly UAH 17 million.

An official of the company has been notified of suspicion under Part 3 of Article 212 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (intentional tax evasion on an especially large scale).

Operational support was provided by officers of the Department of Strategic Investigations of the National Police of Ukraine. Procedural guidance is carried out by prosecutors of the Kyiv Regional Prosecutor's Office.

Please be reminded that, according to Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed innocent of committing a crime and cannot be subjected to criminal punishment until their guilt is proven in accordance with the law and established by a court's verdict of guilty.