Bulgaria Customs Audit Finds Lukoil in BGN 12 M of VAT Violations - Report

The Head of the Bulgarian Customs Agency, General Vanio Tanov, informs an audit of the Agency revealed the Russian energy giant Lukoil owes Bulgaria BGN 12 M in unpaid VAT. Photo by BGNES

The audit of the refinery of the Russian Lukoil in Bulgaria's Black Sea city of Burgas established the company failed to pay over BGN 3 M in VAT for 2007 and 2008.

The information was reported Wednesday by the Head of the Bulgarian Customs Agency, General Vanio Tanov, who said the violations stem from the fact the company paid the Value Added Tax (VAT) on the real crude oil supplies, but they were lower than what the invoices register.

The Customs Head further explained that the same problem was established by the audit for the 2009 tax year, leading to unpaid VAT on the part of Lukoil in the amount of BGN 12 M, the Bulgarian daily Dnevnik reports.

Tanov also said the company had agreed to repay the BGN 3 M regardless of the fact they will give tax money for oil they did not receive while, according to the General, Lukoil failed to make inquiries to the Russian supplier that is the culprit for the financial damages.

Dnevnik quotes Lukoil as saying they will not issue an official statement before seeing the details of the audit.

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