Tashkent Uncovers Scheme to Misappropriate Funds via Tax Cashback

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) – Authorities in Tashkent have initiated a criminal investigation into a scheme that siphoned off nearly 4.7 billion soums in state funds using the tax cashback feature within the Soliq Mobile application. This information comes from the Department for Combating Economic Crimes, operating under the Prosecutor General’s Office.

A preliminary inquiry, conducted in collaboration with the Tax Committee, revealed that officials at G.M. LLC utilized computer equipment to create fraudulent records of goods purchases, amounting to 76.2 billion soums. Subsequently, counterfeit receipts were produced through online cash registers to simulate sales.

Law enforcement agencies report that these fabricated receipts were then sold through the Telegram messaging application to 2,475 individuals listed in the Unified Social Protection Register. The prices for these receipts ranged from 70,000 to 150,000 soums each.

Investigators determined that 7.5 billion soums in tax cashback were generated for these fictitious transactions via Soliq Mobile, with 4.1 billion soums already disbursed. Law enforcement suspects these funds were unlawfully taken or diverted.

A comparable operation was uncovered in Tashkent's Chilanzar district. According to investigators, officials from E.G. LLC and I.F. LLC, acting in concert, processed fabricated purchase records totaling 10 billion soums. They then sold counterfeit receipts to 1,812 citizens from the Unified Social Protection Register, with prices ranging from 100,000 to 150,000 soums per receipt.

For these transactions, 1 billion soums in cashback was accrued through Soliq Mobile, of which 640.8 million soums has been paid out.

In both cases, criminal proceedings have commenced, with charges including embezzlement or misappropriation, as well as the creation, falsification, sale, or use of forged documents. Investigative efforts are ongoing.