A traveler who wanted to fly from Vienna-Schwechat to Cairo on May 7, 2021, was relieved of 97.510 euros by Austrian customs. The spicy thing: According to the agency's broadcast, the man in Austria is said to have tax debts in the amount of around 100.000 euros.

The Ministry of Finance explains that the passenger was checked by customs officers as part of a random check before departure at the gate. He was asked about cash in particular and stated that he had 3.000 euros in cash with him. The officers were obviously suspicious and checked the traveler more closely.

In the course of the official act, the man suddenly stated that he had 70.000 euros with him. Ultimately, the customs officers found a proud 97.510 euros in cash. These are said to have been packed in savings bank envelopes. The cash was split up in a bum bag and in the traveller's hand luggage.

100.000 euros in tax debts at the tax office, 97.510 from customs

The money would be partly private assets, partly the proceeds of his three companies, as the entrepreneur, who is active in the transport and real estate industry, announced. He wanted to buy goods for these same companies. The investigations of the customs officers showed that the tax account of the transport company showed a balance of around 100.000 euros. The man was also known to the colleagues in the operational assessment team at the responsible Graz-Stadt department of the Austrian tax office - he regularly claimed input tax deductions. In addition, he often worked with construction companies that also had noticeably high tax arrears.

In cooperation with the financial and customs offices involved, the tax office's enforcement order for the tax debt was issued to the customs office at short notice. 90.900 euros of the cash carried were seized on site.

For travelers with 10.000 euros or more in cash, there is an obligation to register with customs as soon as the borders into the EU or from the EU are crossed. Due to the breach of obligations in cash transactions according to § 48b FinstrG, a fine of 5.500 euros was levied.

“The fight against illegal movements of money serves in particular to combat money laundering and the financing of terrorism. These are important concerns to me, as well as ensuring fair and equal competitive conditions as well as the uniformity of taxation in Austria ", said Finance Minister Gernot Blümel, who further commented on the remarkable take up:" To build up tax debts at the tax office, but at the same time want to bring the money abroad I do not understand it! Customs and tax authorities worked together excellently and acted quickly and correctly ”.