VAT fraud with mussels uncovered

Belgian and Dutch tax authorities have broken up a large-scale Value Added Tax (VAT) fraud between mussel dealers and their customers. A total of 20 Belgian companies and another 80 VAT-liable organisations were involved. According to initial reports by Flemish dailies Het Belang van Limburg and Gazet van Antwerpen, the scheme involves hundreds of thousands of euros. The companies purportedly purchased large quantities of mussels straight from the dealer, but failed to mention the VAT in their tax return, thus reducing their taxable income considerably. The tax authorities have spent the past year working on dismantling the case of the black market mussels.