According to the results of an audit carried out in 2023, the Federal Tax Service (FTS) of Russia may additionally charge the Russian division of Auchan 180.9 million rubles for unpaid taxes. The reason for the control is not indicated. RBC writes about this with reference to the company’s reports.
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The operator of the Auchan retail chain, Auchan Holding, belongs to the French association of the Mulier family. In addition to the chain of the same name, the holding’s portfolio includes the chains Decathlon, Leroy Merlin, Kiabi, Mondial Carpet, etc.
In 2022, the company decided to continue working in the Russian Federation and reoriented part of its logistics routes, partnered with new Russian and foreign manufacturers and continues to work on the development of its own brands.
Last winter, the first deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on Security and Anti-Corruption, Andrei Lugovoi, called for an audit of the financial and economic activities of Auchan retail chains in Russia. He explained his call because of information he received about Auchan’s use of “illegal tax optimization methods.”
In European countries, questions also arose from tax authorities about business dealings with the Mulier family: searches were carried out at the homes of family members, they were accused of undercover business activities, the Carrefour and Auchan chains were suspected of tax fraud in Italy. .
According to the head of the corporate and tax practice of the Intercession company, Irina Egorova, it is too early to say that Auchan has already committed an infringement, and this has been proven by the tax authorities. Now, the on-site inspection will most likely be completed, if Auchan has been presented with the corresponding report. The act is not a final decision, the taxpayer can present his objections to this document, appeal to higher authorities or to the courts.
“If you look at Auchan’s multimillion-dollar turnover, 180 million rubles is a very small amount. And taking into account, in principle, the scale of activity, this is probably nothing serious for such a large corporation. Rather, we can talk about some kind of reputational risk, but again it is too early to talk about them, since we do not know what kind of violations we are talking about. They may be violations of a technical or calculation nature, and not some kind of bad faith or the use of a tax evasion scheme,” he told RB.RU.
The lawyer explains the audit deadline because such events last a long time, at least a year, and longer in the case of large taxpayers.
Author:
Karina Pardaeva
Source: RB
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