Minsk taxis: 5 million rubles damage to budget

The Ministry of Finance of Belarus found that a cash-in-hand salary scheme operated in 16 taxi fleets employing about 4,000 drivers. According to law enforcement representatives, passengers paid in cash, and the money went directly into the pockets of drivers and management. Weekly, at company offices, a third of the amount was paid in envelopes, resulting in tax evasion of over 5 million Belarusian rubles in income tax.

The scheme also involved 'shadow accountants' who cashed out non-cash payments supposedly intended for operational needs and created fake receipts from gas stations, car repair shops, and car washes, entering them into accounting records.

All suspects have been detained; their property and accounts have been seized. Sixteen criminal cases have been opened against five managers and officials. They are giving confessions and have already started compensating the damage to the state.

Context

Tax evasion schemes in taxi fleets are not new in Belarus, but the scale and magnitude of this case have drawn public and official attention.