The Belgian tax administration has investigated tax fraud by subcontractors who work for PostNL, among other things. The Belgian business magazine De Tidd writes that millions have been imposed on tax assets.
PostNL tells DeccEit in a written reply “not to have received signals”. “Not from the tax authorities and not from the entrepreneurs. Of course, we want the parties with whom we work to comply with the law. We carry out audits and involve external auditors. If it turns out that a party does not comply with the laws and regulations, we take measures and stop cooperation.”
Bankrupt companies
De Tijd says it has documents on which the names of the subcontractors who delivered parcels in Belgium on behalf of PostNL. According to the magazine, the list raises questions. For example, there are companies that have been declared bankrupt. There are also companies that are officially registered with other activities, such as a construction company or a catering establishment.
Also, some drivers wouldnt even have a bank account number. The Belgian tax authorities say that 29 cases of courier services are being dealt with. “Of these, 21 have already been dealt with, resulting in 11.7 million euros in claimed taxes. These are indeed subcontractors of PostNL, for example,” says a spokesman against the Belgian newspaper.
PostNL says that the possible fraud has nothing to do with their own business operations and the rates they apply for deliverers. “The evidence for that is missing. We see delivery companies with whom we work for years, who grow with us and who run a healthy and growing company within the rules,” says a spokesman.