Overview

• In 2024 only 1.4% of business, self‑employed and professional taxpayers received substantive on‑site audits, about 129,000 out of 9 million.
• At the current pace, a full rotation of substantive checks would take roughly 71 years, which the court says weakens deterrence.
• Authorities detected €72.3 billion in evasion last year but collected €12.8 billion, a 17.7% conversion that rose slightly from 2023 yet remains below 2022.
• When assessments moved to formal tax claims, collections fell to 3.1%, with €1.3 billion recovered out of €40.7 billion enrolled.
• Media contrasted the court’s metrics with government boasts of record recoveries that include one‑off settlements and amnesties rather than ordinary enforcement.