Advanced computer programs scanning the internet are the latest tool against tax evaders that the Swedish Tax Agency uses. So far the internet detectives have found SEK half a billion of undeclared revenue from online stores.
- A low estimation is that SEK 5 billion in revenues are evaded from taxation by online stores in Sweden, says Dag Hardyson, project manager at the Tax Agency, to newspaper IDG.
Last year they could find SEK 420 million in undeclared revenue, thanks to their internet tool.
Since the start of the project in 2007, the Tax agency have gained better and better skills in how to use the data mining tools EC Eyes, Xenon and Data Detective. Now they look closer on two other programs specially made to monitor online auction sites as for example eBay.
- With their help we can find sellers from Sweden at those sites, says Maria Nilsson, manager of technical support in the project.
Sweden does cooperate with a number of other countries. The Nordic countries have a special team, but Sweden does also participate in a network with Holland, Austria, Great Brittan, Belgium and Canada.
With help from the data mining tool EC Eyes, developed in Sweden, you could quickly find the persons behind the online stores. You could also find other stores those persons run. Then is it only to compare the calculated revenue with the one sent to the Tax Agency.
A certain target area has been online poker games – where both private persons and companies have received large tax assessments.
Also sellers at auction sites and online advertisement boards have been reviewed where many hundred of professional retailers have been identified.
Right now is the Tax Agency targeting the online “pill industry”.
- We are not so much focused on the result in shekels. What is important is to make people pay their taxes. The sellers should feel that there is a risk of getting caught, says Dag Hardyson.
David Jonasson
david.jonasson@stockholmnews.com