In the Bologna of impossible rents, fifth in Europe for the cost of renting a studio apartment which can exceed 1300 euros per month, it also happens that a single person with the availability of 12 prestigious apartments, used as accommodation facilities for short stays, is completely unknown. Tax authorities, the Police Headquarters and the Municipality who, before the investigation by the Guardia di Finanza, did not know of the existence of a 35-year-old host from Bologna, unemployed and officially penniless, who from 2017 to today according to the Fiamme Gialle he allegedly failed to declare income of almost 2 million euros. Not paying the related taxes. To be precise, 1 million and 816 thousand euros until 2023, the year in which it received the record number of bookings.
Most of them in via Saragozza
Because the 12 rooms finely renovated and equipped with exclusive services, most inside a building in via Saragozza and the others scattered in the historic centre, they were on display on the best and most popular booking sites and to tourists. And they were coveted for their elegant and new appearance, and various benefits, such as the bathroom kit and the welcome toast kit, guaranteed as well as 24-hour reception and surveillance. A service not for everyone.
The use of a management software
A room could cost up to 150 euros and, according to the reconstructions of the financiers, the 35-year-old managed the entire business like a true entrepreneur, using management software where he noted bookings and receipts. Without communicating anything to the Revenue Agency, without providing the police headquarters with the guest data required by safety regulations, and obviously without paying the tourist tax to the Municipality. The 35-year-old, officially penniless because the apartments are owned by the family, was cooperative, investigators reconstruct. And after the investigations he opened the VAT number to regularize the activity. In the meantime, he will have to pay the taxes never paid, calculated on the almost two million estimated by the Gdf as takings, despite the fact that the period also includes the months of the stop linked to Covid. A ride that worked and works well.
The complaint for failure to declare
The Fiamme Gialle reached him by cross-referencing the information contained in the databases with the advertisements published on the major hotel and holiday home booking sites. Thus the complaint was triggered for the failure to declare the income and also for not having communicated the presence of the guests to the Police Headquarters. Who, unaware of having paid a rate not actually subject to taxation, enjoyed their stay in Bologna, the classic welcome kit with bathroom products as a welcome gesture and the comfort of the apartments located in such a characteristic area as via Saragozza or in heart of the city. This is the latest case in a long series of investigations by the Financial Police into violations regarding short-term rentals. Last January, two Bed & Breakfasts in the Montagnola area, particularly active during the fair period, were managed by two different total tax evaders. Bed and breakfast which in 5 years would have yielded a total of more than 700 thousand euros in undeclared income.
Last December, a major investigation by the GDF had found only 2,000 structures in good standing out of the 3,800 advertised on the main tourist rental platforms in the city center of Bologna. Just by examining ten cases of B&Bs, the Finance Department had brought to light over two and a half million euros not paid to the tax authorities. A general average of 300 thousand euros of tax evasion per activity in 2-3 years. Alarming numbers also in light of the rental emergency and a market that has often grown outside the rules.
