Finance wants €12 million

Special treatment? Big fuss about Benko move

(Bild: zVg, Sepp Pail, Krone KREATIV)

The Signa shambles surrounding Tyrolean real estate juggler René Benko has been the subject of a great deal of controversy for months. Now a company relocation from Vienna to Innsbruck is also causing a great deal of incomprehension. The NEOS fear special treatment by the Innsbruck tax office and want to get to the bottom of things.

"Somehow it's all spooky and mysterious what's been going on recently." This is how local residents and walkers describe the events and processes surrounding the "Benko Villa" in the Innsbruck district of Igls, which lies high above the provincial capital in the low mountain range.

At the end of the year, the Republic seized the 60 million luxury property. However, it is still causing a stir: The owner company has now unexpectedly moved its headquarters from Vienna to Innsbruck. And this only a few days after the tax claims of the tax authorities in the millions became known ...

Under increasing pressure: real estate juggler Benko(Bild: APA/dpa/Frank Rumpenhorst)

The property in the Innsbruck district of Igls(Bild: zVg)

Villa in the sights of the tax authorities
Since the beginning of December, the tax authorities have been keeping a close eye on the luxury property, reports the Ö1 "Morgenjournal". On paper, it is actually only there for commercial use. However, the property is said to belong to Benko's private foundation network via complicated detours.

It is even suspected that only Benko and his family live there. The tax authorities are now claiming back twelve million in VAT.

The villa belongs to Schlosshotel Igls Betriebs GmbH, based in Vienna. In mid-January, shortly after the seizure, a letter was received by the Vienna Commercial Court - and it reveals exciting details.

NEOS believe it is no coincidence
"The shareholders announce that the registered office of the company has been moved from Vienna to Innsbruck," reads the document sent by the owners of the villa. The NEOS are concerned.

Yannick Shetty, who represents the Pinken party on the relevant committee of inquiry, doubted that the timing was a coincidence. 

Signa Holding, which is now insolvent, had also moved its headquarters from Vienna to Innsbruck in 2018. This had saved Benko's holding company millions in tax debts.

In the same year, Benkos Signa would have had to pay taxes of 50 million euros to the tax office. At the time, the sale of the Tuchlauben complex was at issue. By relocating the company's headquarters, Benko saved himself a lot of taxes. This was because he "only" had to pay 36 million euros in Innsbruck - a whole 14 million euros less ...