The couple De Gucht does not want an arrangement with the fisc

Karel De Gucht and his wife Mireille Schreurs did not accept the arrangement concerning the file opened by the Special Tax Inspectorate (ISI) against them. The file was being processed on Wednesday before the tax chamber of the Ghent Court of First Instance.

In 2010, the tax authorities began to investigate Karel De Gucht and his wife Mireille Schreurs by looking at a villa bought in Tuscany. The taxman then looked at the couple's accounts and pinned a stock transaction dated 2005. At that time, Karel De Gucht made a profit of 1.2 million euros by selling shares of a mining company, and it is on this transaction that the tax claims 976.282,71 euros to the couple. In February 2010, the ISI extended the review period from three to seven years because there were indications of fraud.

The case before the Tax Court of the Ghent Court of First Instance several twists. First, at the Ghent Court of Appeal where it was decided in December 2013 that the tax authorities were not allowed to consult these accounts. The Court of Appeal therefore annulled this act.

The special tax inspection then turned to the Court of Cbadation and was comforted in his choice. Last April, it became apparent that the De Gucht couple wanted to conclude an arrangement proposed by the taxman, seven years after the start of the investigation. "The Special Finance Inspectorate has officially sent us a letter inviting us to the table. If a proposal comes out, we will take it into account as good taxpayers. But it's not our initiative. We have arguments strong enough to deal with tax authorities", then warned the lawyer De Gucht family, Bruno Cardoen.

And this Wednesday, this same lawyer indicates that Karel De Gucht and his wife did not accept this arrangement. These clients were not present in court. According to Bruno Cardoen, the tax authorities have engaged in a "crusade" and the amount of nearly one million euros has lapsed. Conversely, the Belgian state's lawyer insisted that "not to declare money is tax evasion". To be continued.