Billions of zlotys are still circulating on fictitious invoices

Last year the number of detected fictitious invoices increased by over 31 percent compared to 2020. In turn, the resulting gross amount was over 7 percent lower y/y. Experts argue that the data presented by the Ministry of Finance may be overstated. But they also pay attention to organized fraud. At the same time, there is talk of a greater risk of detecting the practice, including due to legislative changes, as well as the implementation of new solutions and IT systems. The department does not carry out detailed reporting to indicate the industries and goods most often detected on the occasion of fictitious invoices. On the other hand, there are many opinions among the experts on this subject that the problem will continue to grow.

"In the years 2020-2021, the state reduced its activity in the field of broadly understood fiscal control. This is a well-known fact, which is certainly a signal that allows for the turnover of fictitious invoices. In addition, the Ministry of Finance comes up with some further simplifications in the tax on goods and services, as if forgetting that the greatest threat to budget revenues is not, for example, the rules of issuing corrective invoices. The problem is organized mass fraud, which is a feature of Community VAT. So if the number of detected falsifications increased, it means that something very bad is happening," prof. Witold Modzelewski, former deputy finance minister, commented.

(WBJ)