The National Tax Administration Office of Cuba (ONAT) has uncovered tax evasion exceeding 800 million pesos in the first four months of the year. Belkis Pino Hernández, the first deputy chief of ONAT, disclosed to the newspaper Granma that approximately 80,852 control actions were carried out in the initial four months of the year, identifying debts totaling 819 million 594 thousand pesos.
According to the official, by the end of 2023 and up until May, 210 reports of alleged tax evasion were filed, 207 of which involved natural persons and only three were related to entities. Among these, 30 cases were closed after the debtors paid their dues, 117 cases are proceeding legally, and 63 cases remain unresolved.
The detected irregularities include the updating, manipulation, or alteration of books, records, sub-ledgers, and other models, cancellation of accounts receivable without documentary support, and the non-declaration of hired labor.
Judith Navarro Ricardo, a specialist from the legal department, reported that ONAT's response to these "fraudulent actions" involved a "significant number" of authorization withdrawals, embargoes, and travel restrictions (prohibitions on leaving the country). However, no specific data was provided by the official.
Understanding Cuba's Tax Evasion Issues
Here are some frequently asked questions and answers to provide more clarity on the tax evasion issues detected by ONAT in Cuba.
What were the primary methods of tax evasion detected by ONAT?
The primary methods included the updating, manipulation, or alteration of books, records, sub-ledgers, and other models, cancellation of accounts receivable without documentary support, and the non-declaration of hired labor.
How did ONAT respond to the detected tax evasion cases?
ONAT's response included a significant number of authorization withdrawals, embargoes, and travel restrictions.
How many reports of alleged tax evasion were filed in the first four months of 2023?
A total of 210 reports were filed, with 207 involving natural persons and three related to entities.