the number of files sent to justice by the tax authorities explodes in 2021

A colossal increase. The tax administration transmitted more than 4,100 cases of fraud to justice in 2021, more than three times more than in 2020 or 2019, due in particular to the numerous complaints filed for fraud to the solidarity fund.

Of the 4,168 cases sent to justice last year, compared to 1,489 in 2020 and 1,826 in 2019, more than 2,500 concerned fraud in this business support system set up during the health crisis, according to the activity report of the General Directorate of Public Finance (DGFiP) published on Tuesday 21 June.

More than 10 billion euros recovered

In total, the administration has recovered approximately 67 million euros unduly paid under the solidarity fund, and the controls introduced prior to the payment of the aid have made it possible to rule out approximately 10 billion euros of undue payments, estimated the director general of public finances, Jérôme Fournel. The tax administration only sends the most important cases of fraud to justice, said Jérôme Fournel when presenting this report to the press. In total, in 2021, the State recovered 10.7 billion euros following tax audits, almost as much as in 2019 when they had reached a record (11 billion).

Excluding the solidarity fund, 1,626 tax evasion files were sent to justice by the tax administration, i.e. 9% more than in 2020 but still 10.9% less than in 2019, before the crisis. The relaxation of the “Bercy lock”, introduced by the anti-fraud law of 2018 and which obliges the tax authorities to transmit to justice the facts of fraud greater than 100,000 euros, has however led to a jump in compulsory denunciations without notice of the Tax Offenses Commission (CIF), which reached 1,217, compared to 823 in 2020 and 965 in 2019.