Since tax-evading fraudsters are elusive for the tax authorities, all those operating in the same industry become suspects. Now it has fallen on Piotr Bieliński, whose company Action is to pay PLN 90 million. Are we getting ready for a new Optimus case?
When Piotr Bielinski first cancelled Action's earnings forecast more than a year ago, investors never imagined there would be so much drama. Action was a giant in electronics distribution, the most profitable company in the industry, with 5 billion in revenue. But within a year and a half, the company's value fell from nearly a billion to PLN 95 million. Bielinski, however, does not lose his resonance. He enters the office slightly late, straight from meetings with key suppliers and insurers. On the way, he has also eaten something quickly.
- After all, I can't get an ulcer in my stomach because of the absurd accusations of the tax authorities and the banks, which, by reducing our limits, violate the restructuring law. I won't leave it at that," he throws in a greeting. For the time being, he is calling on the banks to perform the contracts they have with Action. - If that doesn't work, we will definitely apply for damages," he adds.
Following its troubles in 2015, in July this year the tax offices in Warsaw and Olsztyn demanded that the listed company refund PLN 90 million in outstanding VAT. Analysts suspended issuing recommendations for the company, banks restricted its financing and small investors declared it bankrupt on online forums. Only it wasn't Action that misaccounted for the VAT, but it was defrauded by the distant contractors of its counterparties, situated somewhere in fifth or sixth place in the chain of multiple electronics sales transactions.
– Nie znamy tych spółek, to nie są nasi kontrahenci, nie mieliśmy żadnych możliwości ich weryfikacji. Urząd kontroli skarbowej przyszedł do nas, bo pewnie jesteśmy jedyną firmą w tym łańcuchu, która dysponuje gotówką – skarży się Bieliński.
– Fiskus nie zarzuca podatnikowi oszustwa. Podejrzewa go, że nie wykazał należytej staranności, by zabezpieczyć się przed znalezieniem się w łańcuchu transakcji z oszustami – tłumaczy problem Tomasz Michalik, szef największej polskiej firmy doradztwa podatkowego MDDP. I zarazem zadaje pytanie, czy na pewno jest jasne, jak miał to zrobić. Jego zdaniem podatnik może nawet nie mieć szansy na obronę, bo zajęcie przez urząd skarbowy tak wielkiej kwoty doprowadzi spółkę do niewypłacalności.
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1 September 2016:
" How the fiscal is squeezing listed company Action
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