Sassari, €30m tax evasion uncovered: couple and Swiss company in digital ticket touting network

Official logo and header text of the Sassari Provincial Command of the Italian Financial Police (Guardia di Finanza)

SASSARI - An investigation by the Guardia di Finanza has brought to light a suspected large-scale system of digital ticket touting, capable of generating over 30 million euros in undeclared revenue. At the centre, a couple who allegedly exploited a dual Italy–Switzerland residence and a merely apparent foreign company to conceal an illicit resale activity of tickets for concerts and major events. The investigation, which began from a targeted tip-off, reconstructed a flow of purchases and resales involving thousands of tickets. A case that intertwines international tax evasion, technology and secondary ticketing.

Structured economic and financial policing activity to combat digital ticket touting

Fight against digital ticket touting, international tax evasion uncovered in Italy. Over 30 million euros not declared to the tax authorities. Officers of the Provincial Command of the Guardia di Finanza of Sassari (Sardinia) carried out a structured economic and financial policing operation to combat digital ticket touting with international taxation profiles, ultimately reconstructing undeclared income, over the last five years, amounting to more than 30 million euros. In particular, the activity conducted by the officers of the Olbia Group stemmed from the examination of a report received from the Corps' Special Unit for Goods and Services, which, within the "Follow the ticket" project developed to combat so-called illicit secondary ticketing, identified an individual resident in Olbia who had purchased a substantial number of tickets for concerts, football matches and shows held in Italy, intended for unauthorised resale.

Tens of thousands of tickets for events worth over one million euros

Operational developments confirmed the identified risk indicators, making it possible to broaden the investigative scope to include the spouse, who was found to be carrying out the same activity. Indeed, the couple, who enjoyed dual Italian and Swiss residence, allegedly exploited this legal condition by failing to declare to the Tax Administration the proceeds of their work activity, in fact carried out on Italian territory. Investigations conducted by the officers made it possible to establish, for tax purposes, that the two individuals had their centre of vital interests in the Gallura area and that, from there, between 2019 and 2024, they allegedly purchased tens of thousands of tickets for events, worth over one million euros. Subsequently, investigative attention was directed towards a Swiss company, of which one of the spouses was found to be the administrator and sole shareholder. The evidence gathered by the Guardia di Finanza revealed that the Swiss registered office was merely a mailbox address, and that the actual management of the business was permanently carried out from the island.

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Violations relating to illicit secondary ticketing

As with the two individuals, the alleged Swiss company was also found to have engaged in the advertising and resale of tickets for Italian Serie A football matches and concerts by singers, including internationally renowned artists, held in Italy. The company was therefore classified in Italy as a "total tax evader", and all income reconstructed during the tax audit was consequently brought under domestic taxation. At the conclusion of the inspection activities, undeclared revenues were quantified at over 30 million euros in total, with VAT evasion of around 6.5 million euros, and the two spouses were reported to the Public Prosecutor's Office of Tempio Pausania for the offence of failure to declare income. Violations relating to illicit secondary ticketing were also reported to the Corps' Special Unit for onward transmission to the Italian Communications Regulatory Authority (AGCOM), for matters within its competence.

The fraudulent exploitation of supranational tax coordination mechanisms

This result constitutes further proof of the daily commitment of the Guardia di Finanza of Sassari, under the coordination of the Public Prosecutor of Tempio Pausania, in combating all forms of tax evasion and avoidance, including those with international profiles which, through the fraudulent exploitation of supranational tax coordination mechanisms, affect the principles of economic and financial legality and fair, healthy competition between businesses. Press release authorised by the Judicial Authority, pursuant to reasoned decree no. 35 of Register 2026 dated 20 May 2026 of the Public Prosecutor's Office at the Court of Tempio Pausania, with the clarification that the facts reported above, at present, refer exclusively to the preliminary investigation stage, without prejudice to the merits of any subsequent trial.

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