Federal Finance Minister Olaf Scholz wants to intensify the fight against tax fraud.
The SPD politician and candidate for chancellor said in Berlin on Friday: "At my instigation, the Federal Central Tax Office procured a CD containing tax-relevant data from the Emirate of Dubai." These data are now being evaluated by the federal states.
“It's about exposing possible tax offenses.
Tax evasion is not a trivial offense, but a criminal offense.
There is no mercy. "
First, the "Spiegel" reported that Scholz had for the first time had the Federal Central Tax Office purchase secret data in order to uncover massive tax fraud.
This is comprehensive information about assets in Dubai.
Millions of taxpayers are affected, including several thousand Germans who, among other things, have land and real estate in the Gulf emirate.
2 million euros expensive
Scholz promised himself by the purchase to uncover cross-border tax crimes of considerable extent.
The data provided insights into assets that were hidden from the tax authorities in Dubai, according to a report in the ministry.
In addition to clearing up criminal offenses, the data also ensured that the tax authorities would have full access to cross-border transactions.
This would avoid loss of income.
According to "Spiegel", the data was offered by an anonymous informant that the purchase had cost the Federal Office around 2 million euros.
So far, only federal states have bought tax data.
The then North Rhine-Westphalian finance minister and today's SPD leader Norbert Walter-Borjans bought several tax data CDs.
He was NRW Minister of Finance from 2010 to 2017.