Russian law enforcement authorities suspected the Moscow division of the Swedish manufacturer of cosmetics Oriflame Cosmetics SA in tax evasion in the amount of at least 3.5 billion rubles. The audit found that in 2008-2010 the company introduced this amount under the guise of royalties for the brand at the head office of the company in the Netherlands, as well as the payment of allegedly overstated advertising services contractors. A criminal case has not yet opened. In Oriflame argue that scrupulously "respect the laws of the country of the activities and norms of international law."

According to "Kommersant", in the audit of the Company "Oriflame Cosmetics", Russian "daughter" of the Swedish Oriflame Cosmetics SA, took part in the Interior Ministry, the Federal Security Service, Federal Tax Service, Federal Customs Service, Federal Financial Monitoring Service and the Federal Service. And last week in the capital of the company office on the street Usachev, 37 employees GUEBiPK Ministry of Internal Affairs with the support of the FSB special forces seized documents and electronic media.

The basis for the due diligence materials were the FTS Management in Moscow. According to the tax authorities, perfume and cosmetics company deliberately underestimated St.Custom revenues to minimize tax payments to the Russian budget. First auditors alerted by the fact that in 2006 the revenue profile "Oriflame Cosmetics" was 10.7 billion rubles, and the profit or loss, taking into account all the expenses proved unprofitable -. Minus 956 million rubles. Meanwhile, in 2010 the revenues of the Russian representative office of the company has almost doubled - to around 20 billion rubles. However, over the five years of work in Russia, the company's financial result is still turned negative - minus 3 billion rubles.

Comparing these data with stock Oriflame reports to investors (shares are traded on world stock exchanges), the tax authorities saw the discrepancies. In particular, it was found that from January 2008 to October 2010, the Russian representative Oriflame a profit of more than 2 billion rubles. However, it is all under the guise of so-called licensing agreements has been paid to the company's head office in the Netherlands. The tax authorities believe that the company is so simple tax evasion.

In addition, the inspectors found that the company overestimated costs and calculationsah with their contractors. Thus, in 2009-2010, the company "Oriflame Cosmetics" for information and marketing services to listed companies-partners about 500 million rubles.

Test results were sent to the CCJ, as in the actions of the heads of LLC "Oriflame Cosmetics" signs of a crime under part were detected. 2, Art. 199 of the Criminal Code (evasion from payment of taxes and fees to the organizations on a large scale). According to preliminary data, from 2006 to 2010, the Russian budget would receive less from the company more than 3 billion rubles. income tax, and taking into account fines and penalties that amount of 4.5 billion rubles. A criminal case has not yet opened. And in the case of excitation in accordance with the footnote to Art. 199 of the Criminal prosecution may be terminated if the organization which is charged with tax evasion, fully repay all arrears.

Director of Corporate Affairs Oriflame in Russia and the CIS Sergey Bolshakov confirmed that on Wednesday police conducted seizure of documents in the Moscow office and logistics center in Noginsk district. His financial deyatelnosout in Russia in Oriflame does not comment, citing the quiet period before the publication of the statements in the first half, which is scheduled for August 14. In Oriflame "Kommersant" said that repeated tax audit in relation to the company a few years ago was launched, during which it provided all the required documents and gave the necessary explanations. Mr. Bolshakov noted that the high level of taxes in the country, "the company's effective tax rate in Russia is high and the number of independent Russian and international experts and consultants have confirmed the tax position of Oriflame, which complies with current local and international law and practice". He stressed that "to date in relation to the company does not any official complaints from the inspection bodies, not to mention the judicial decisions or proceedings."

The Federal Tax Service of "Kommersant" said yesterday that comment on the situation before the judgment will not. Abstaining from commenting and law enforcement agencies involved in operational activities on the dlu.

Note that before the Federal Tax Service was presenting similar claims to the Russian division of the Japanese Mazda - the company "Mazda Motor Rus". The audit of its operations in 2009, the tax authorities have identified a scheme for tax evasion, suspecting that the company bought the machine from its partners at an inflated price, and then selling the usual. Initially, the amount withdrawn funds abroad was estimated at about 2.6 billion rubles., From which allegedly was not paid more than 600 million rubles. Here, as in the case of Oriflame, it turned out that "Mazda Motor Rus" allegedly worked at a loss. As a result, the Ninth Arbitration Court of Appeals ordered the company to pay the Russian budget more than 270 million rubles. (See. "Kommersant" on 16 April).