152 companies caught

Bogus companies are common in these sectors

The financial police carried out 26,850 checks in the previous year. They discovered 152 bogus companies.(Bild: BMF)

Despite unemployment benefits, emergency and housing allowances, marginally (!) employed staff at some cleaning companies collected more than 3,000 euros net per month.

When the "tax authorities" knock on the door, defaulting companies face trouble. 26,850 checks were carried out in 2023, of 51,356 employees checked, almost 5,000 were not covered by social security and 3,452 were working illegally. 204 were even caught working even though they were receiving AMS money. A total of 23.7 million in penalties were applied for.

"Any form of tax evasion or illegal business practices harms honest companies," stated Finance Minister Magnus Brunner (ÖVP) at the annual review of his 450 financial police officers. They stand firmly on the side of those who behave correctly, he emphasized.

Illegal gambling continues to cause concern.(Bild: BMF)

40 to 60 hours instead of minor offences
152 companies that are not even allowed to call themselves that were not behaving correctly. The bogus companies - mainly in the cleaning, security, temporary employment and construction sectors - employed staff on a marginal basis. They worked an average of 40 to 60 hours, collected most of their wages illegally and also received social transfers such as unemployment benefits, emergency benefits and housing benefits. At least more than 800 million euros were transferred in this way in 2023.

The perpetrators behind the illegal trade are becoming increasingly professional, according to Alfred Hacker, Director of the Office for Combating Fraud. Around 157 violations were registered at one security company, and six bogus companies were exposed, according to the head of the financial police, Wilfried Lehner.

Illegal gambling also continues to cause concern. 435 devices were confiscated and 3.6 million in fines were imposed.