In Venezuela for 40 years, but only for the tax authorities

He had emigrated to Venezuela forty years ago, or at least that is what the Italian tax authorities believed.

In fact, despite receiving a modest pension as a small businessman, he owned a sumptuous villa in Castellanza, and habitually rode around in a large car, with a chauffeur behind the wheel.

And so, a man, of whom no other details have been given, has ended up in the sights of the Revenue Guard Corps in Busto Arsizio, who for some time have been checking people in the lists of the Registry of Italians resident abroad.

The “small” businessman had apparently been a resident of the South American country since 1974, which was strange, considering his frequent car rides (always with a chauffeur) from Castellanza to Lugano.

Thus, the Tax Police discovered that the Swiss town was the deposit for all of the proceeds from financial activities that the man owned abroad, that, of course, had never been declared in Italy. Thanks to this now “historic” tax evasion, the man had managed to establish himself abroad as a businessman, investing his savings in financial activities and property, even in Florida, in the United States.

The “perfect” plan was to transfer his tax residency abroad and leave all of his money outside Italy, “sheltered” from the legitimate demands of the Italian tax authorities. And this situation may have continued, had the Revenue Guard officers limited their checks to registry statements.

The fictitious “emigrant”, who has been reported to the Public Prosecutor’s Office, in Busto Arsizio, for failing to make income declarations for tax purposes, and to declare the proceeds of activities owned abroad, some even in “tax havens”, will now have to pay taxes, plus sanctions, to the amount of over €5 million. This is mainly on money and shares held in Switzerland, and on real estate in Florida and Venezuela, for which, we can be sure, he must feel a certain nostalgia.