New tax enforcement sweep targets fraud in the courier and parcel sector
A new operation against tax fraud is underway as authorities expand audits across the courier and parcel industry. The Tax Office has initiated more than one hundred audits involving over seventy-seven companies and forty individuals connected to the sector. In addition, around 270 employees were examined this week, with the work taking place across 76 facilities distributed throughout fourteen autonomous communities. This aggressive action reflects a coordinated effort to uncover undeclared operations, irregular payroll practices, and the use of software to mask fraudulent sales and payments under the so‑called dual-use category.
Officials have launched audits that will continue over the coming months. The objective is to scrutinize operating assumptions that have not been declared, including payments to workers listed as franchise employees under the B system and the potential use of computer programs to conceal true sales figures. Recent findings indicate that dual-use software has already appeared in some cases, prompting heightened scrutiny of accounting practices and reporting methods, and signaling a broader push to close gaps in tax compliance. These developments emerged after yesterday’s evidence collection and statements from treasury sources.
The operation, named Columba, requires comprehensive reviews of the companies and individuals involved—partners, managers, and family members—through the presence of inspectors from the Agency’s Tax Inspection division at facilities located in multiple regions. The following areas are part of the initial wave: Andalusia, Aragon, Asturias, Canary Islands, Cantabria, Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla y León, Catalonia, Extremadura, Galicia, Madrid, Murcia, La Rioja, and the Valencian Community. The effort is coordinated by the Columba command and the Tax Office’s Financial and Tax Audit Department, with the participation of more than 260 inspectors from the Tax Inspection unit. This includes staff from computer control units, along with police officers and 14 customs inspectors. The operation leverages cross‑disciplinary expertise to ensure thorough oversight of the facilities under review.
The inspections, which began midweek, will be sustained over the coming months. They trace back to prior complaints about the courier and parcel sector, which highlighted occurrences of concealed activities, fringe payments to workers in the B system, cash invoicing, and the use of dual-use software to hide sales. Treasury sources confirm that the existence and use of these programs by some audited companies were corroborated by statements provided yesterday.
Dual-use software and accounting controls
The agency’s 2022 control plan emphasizes targeting dual-use software, aligning with the ongoing regulatory framework designed to safeguard data integrity, protection, accessibility, readability, traceability, and the essential requirements for computer-based billing systems. A key focus is maintaining immutable invoice records in line with the General Tax Code. During the Wednesday inspections, officials gained direct access to accounting records and related documents, including computer systems, to verify reported activity and assess whether unreported volumes exist and whether sales have been obscured by software or irregular billing schemes. This step aims to confirm the scope of any undisclosed activity and to identify potential noncompliant practices.
Partners, family ties, and economic signals
The inspections also examine individuals connected to the companies through social and family networks. The aim is to determine whether the external wealth of certain entities aligns with the income publicly reported by the audited firms. In the broader postal industry, the National Markets and Competition Commission notes that more than 60 percent of the 2,177 registered operators operate under a franchise regime or similar structures. One such firm under the Columba umbrella has been experiencing rapid growth in the courier and parcel sector, driven by the expansion of e-commerce in the Spanish market. By focusing on these relationships, authorities hope to curb distortions that arise when wealth and ownership signals do not match reported earnings.
The Columba operation is part of a tradition of sectoral macro operations coordinated by multiple agencies over the past decade. It has already yielded extensive results, contributing to enhanced tax compliance and deterrence across the industry. To date, these measures have facilitated significant recoveries and strengthened market integrity by exposing fraudulent schemes and ensuring fair competition among players within the sector. Through this approach, authorities aim to protect public finances and restore confidence among legitimate businesses and consumers alike.
In summary, the Columba operation represents a broad, sustained effort to audit the complex network surrounding courier and parcel providers, with a focus on dual-use software, undeclared activity, and the alignment of wealth with reported income. The combined resources of inspectors, law enforcement, and customs officials underscore the seriousness with which authorities approach tax fraud and its impact on fair competition. The ongoing process signals continued vigilance and a commitment to closing gaps that undermine the integrity of the tax system and the broader market. The public can anticipate ongoing updates as more findings emerge and as audits extend into additional facilities and regions across the country, consistent with the authorities’ mandate to enforce compliance and deter misconduct .