Heating oil in the truck tank: Aachener Zoll stops repeat offenders

Heating oil in the truck tank: Aachener Zoll stops repeat offenders

Aachen (ots)

In the past two weeks, Aachen customs has uncovered a remarkable case of tax evasion, in which a 59-year-old driver from Bulgaria tried to avoid tax costs. During checks on a rest area on the A 4 motorway, which leads towards Cologne, the officials discovered heating oil instead of diesel in the tank of the vehicle. This revealed that the freight forwarder of her vehicle did not apparently not engaged in this illegal method for saving money.

The inspectors, who are responsible for compliance with customs and tax law, conducted sample with a special device, the so-called "diesel lifter". These sampling showed a striking red color of the fuel, which was a clear indication of heating oil. The officials had already been informed that the driver had only been checked under similar circumstances two weeks earlier. This indicates that the freight forwarder may repeat the law in an attempt to avoid tax obligations.

repeated violations and legal consequences

The privilege for the use of tax -privileged heating oil is clearly defined; It is used for certain purposes, e.g. for heaters, and must not be used as a fuel for vehicles that drive on public roads. That is the reason why customs takes strict measures when determining heating oil in the tank of a vehicle.

The legal consequences can be significant for the driver and the freight forwarder. If customs prove that heating oil has been filled in, the entire tax is due for the tank volume. In addition, the driver, who is referred to as a "old acquaintance" in this case, can expect a fine or even imprisonment. These measures are part of the efforts of the German authorities to pursue and punish tax offenses in order to secure a fair and legal business environment.

The role of customs in combating tax offenses

Aachen customs has once again illustrated the importance of its role through these incidents. Controls, as carried out in this case, are an essential part of the monitoring of legal requirements in relation to tax law. Tax evasion not only harms the state, but also undermines all honest companies that adhere to the rules.

The regular controls are therefore not only important for the uncovering of illegal activities, they also send out a clear message: tax offenses are not tolerated. The customs that has the necessary specialist knowledge and experience encounter such cases with the offered strict. However, the remarkable aspect of this case is the positive return of the inspectors after they have recently come across the same situation. This shows that the authorities remain vigilant and actively act in order to pursue legal violations more effectively.

Overall, this incident is another example of the determination of customs to act against tax evasion. Such cases call for the vigilance of all companies that may think about operating with unfair means.

a constant fight against tax evasion

The increased controls that the federal authorities have carried out in recent years reflect the growing awareness of the need to combat tax offenses. It is clear that tax evasion is not only a legal, but also an ethical question that cannot be swept under the carpet. Companies and their drivers are well advised to adhere to the applicable regulations and thus contribute their part to stability and fairness in the economy. It remains to be seen whether the driver from Bulgaria and his freight forwarder will learn from past incidents or whether they will continue to focus on the customs authorities.

In recent years, cases of such violations of the fuel regulations have increased. This is partly due to the fact that the price for diesel in Europe is still high and many drivers try to save costs by using heating oil. Heating oil is usually only intended for use in heating systems and is not subject to the same taxes as motor oil, which makes it an attractive but illegal option for drivers.

background to tax evasion for fuels

Tax evasion in connection with fuels is a serious problem that not only endangers the income of the state, but also leads to unfair competitive conditions for legal companies. The German authorities have taken various measures in recent years to strengthen control over fuel sales and their use. In addition to routine customs controls

According to a report by Federal Office for Freight Transport from 2022, it was found that tax losses are estimated by the illegal use of heating oil at several million euros per year. These losses result from the different taxation of heating oil and diesel, which means that some companies can obtain an unfair competitive advantage through illegal practices.

Statistical development of tax violations

The statistics to controls by customs show that the number of violations found has increased significantly in recent years. A report of the Zoll Bundes For the controls of 2021, an increase of 30 % shows in the discovery of incident cases of heating oil abuse. This refers to the need to implement stricter controls and perhaps even an increased information about the legal consequences of such actions.

• 2021: 200 cases of heating oil abuse determined
• 2022: 260 cases of heating oil abuse determined
• 2023: projected 300 cases of heating oil abuse

Since the authorities are increasingly against these violations, it is expected that these numbers will continue to increase, which underlines the relevance and importance of unannounced controls at crucial traffic nodes such as rest areas.