Austria’s finance ministry says AI helped uncover tax fraud, generating an extra EUR 354 million in tax revenue in 2024.
Austria’s Ministry of Finance announced on 13 August 2025 that its use of artificial intelligence (AI) helped generate an extra EUR 354 million in tax revenue in 2024.
The ministry’s Predictive Analytics Competence Centre (PACC), a specialised unit, uses AI to detect tax fraud and compliance violations.
According to the ministry, the PACC applied machine learning and text mining to review 6.6 million tax cases and 23.4 million compliance cases. The analysis identified false employee assessments, fraudulent tax filings, and shell companies. One highlighted case involved an agricultural business that concealed vehicle sales. AI-assisted checks during an external audit revealed that deregistered agricultural vehicles listed in the registration database were not recorded in the company’s accounting and asset records, resulting in EUR 300,000 in additional tax claims.
“Just as fraudulent energies are constantly changing and evolving, the fight against fraud must also utilise modern methods. We want to use even more AI in the future to detect forms of tax fraud,” says Finance Minister Markus Marterbauer. A tax fraud prevention package is to be presented in the fall. “Fighting fraud is a matter of justice. Those who commit fraud harm not only the state, but all honest taxpayers,” the Finance Minister said.
The ministry plans to expand its AI use, including generative AI, and increase cooperation with national and international partners.
