Two citizens of Santa Clara, Cuba were sentenced to prison for tax evasion. The amount embezzled exceeded six million Cuban pesos. The Sentences They were published on the Facebook profile of the Office of National Tax Administration (ONAT) of the aforementioned municipality.
ONAT has not disclosed the identities of the two defendants or the activity they carry out. However, one of them was sent to prison for three years for defrauding CUP of $4,978,429.71.
Meanwhile, the other tax evader must serve four years in prison for avoiding paying a $1,110,534.51 CUP. As if that were not enough, the latter is obligated to “repair” the material damage by paying $1,000,270.64 CUP.
ONAT in Santa Clara reported that from January to October of this year, six complaints were filed with the municipal attorney’s office. Many citizens were accused of tax evasion.
The defrauded amount is $11,011,959.08 CUP. In all cases, those involved in these types of crimes were prosecuted and punished according to the already established law.
Traveling on credit is prohibited
A year ago, Cuba restricted leaving the country to those with substantial debts with ONAT. Tax authorities forbid anyone to leave the island until debts to the state are settled.
To fulfill this objective, ONAT signed an agreement with the Directorate of Identity, Immigration and Foreigners (DIIE) of the Ministry of Home Affairs. Every action carried out in this sense is protected by Law No.113 of the Tax System.
This provision empowers ONAT to impose sanctions on taxpayers.
This includes everything from surcharges and fines, confiscation of bank accounts, closure of companies and withdrawal of tax benefits to other non-monetary ones.
A clear example of Cuba’s crackdown on tax evaders occurred last October. The government prevented a taxpayer from leaving the country from Sancti Spiritus who owed nine million pesos in taxes.
