Finance Ministry investigators charge 8 for defrauding budget of $253,059 using tax forgery

Eight individuals have been charged for fraudulently acquiring ₾704,714 ($253,059) from the state budget using forged tax documents, the Investigation Service of Georgia’s Finance Ministry said on Thursday.

The Service said its investigation had found the offenders had produced fake monthly VAT declarations between 2021 and 2023 on behalf of companies under their management for alleged sale of goods.

They then created a false VAT asset for the companies through the documentation to fraudulently acquire the amount from the state budget.

The body added “relevant measures” were being taken to compensate for the damage caused to the state budget and to identify other individuals in connection with the case.

The crime is punishable by imprisonment from six to nine years.