38 million euros in sales tax evaded. What the FDP scandal shows us all
11.09.2025 um 15:13 Uhr
A local politician, a huge fraud and a harsh verdict
It sounds like a thriller. But it is a sad reality from North Rhine-Westphalia.
An FDP local politician from Viersen has just been sentenced to eight years in prison. The charge: VAT evasion amounting to almost 38 million euros.
The public prosecutor’s office spoke of the biggest case in the region for years. The defendant is alleged to have evaded taxes on a gigantic scale using fictitious invoices, letterbox companies and bogus sales.
What this has to do with you
More than you think. After all, tax evasion doesn’t just start with a million-euro sum of 38 million euros.
Even minor errors, forgotten income or overly optimistic information in the advance VAT return can have criminal consequences. And the tax office shows no mercy. Regardless of whether you are an entrepreneur, self-employed person or private individual.
The good news: if you act in time, you can avoid criminal proceedings
The method of choice is voluntary disclosure.
What are the benefits of filing a voluntary disclosure and why you should do it sooner rather than later
If you voluntarily and fully disclose to the tax office what has not yet been declared, you remain exempt from prosecution under certain conditions.
Sounds simple. But it is only effective if the formal requirements are strictly adhered to.
- We have the right help for this:
Here you can find our legal documents on voluntary disclosure in tax law
Whether it’s income tax, VAT or capital gains.
Our templates help you to submit your voluntary disclosure correctly, completely and on time. Without an expensive law firm. Without errors.
The Viersen case shows: Even celebrity does not protect
The former politician from Viersen was in public life for many years.
But even that does not protect him from criminal law. Tax evasion is not a trivial offense, but a criminal offense with serious consequences.
Therefore, if you want to get your tax affairs in order, you should not wait until it is too late.
As soon as the tax office investigates or an external audit is due, in many cases it is already too late to make a voluntary disclosure to avoid prosecution.
Our tip: Discreet, secure, effective with the right template
It is often difficult for entrepreneurs, the self-employed and digital service providers in particular to keep track of all tax-relevant transactions.
Anyone who does their own bookkeeping or receives income from various sources, such as platforms, foreign countries or cryptocurrencies, runs the risk of unknowingly providing incorrect or incomplete information.
- Our legal document will help you to take this step in a professional and formally correct manner:
Legal documents on voluntary disclosure at a glance. View now
Conclusion: Not just a scandal, but a warning
The case of the FDP politician is an extreme example, but not an isolated case.
The number of voluntary disclosures in Germany has been rising for years. And not without reason.
The risk of being caught is higher today than ever before.
Digital comparisons, international cooperation and AI-supported risk checks at the tax offices.
- Therefore: If you are unsure. Get active. Now.
To the overview of all legal documents on voluntary disclosure
Sources for further reading
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