Report: Tax Inspector Reportedly Advised Identitarian Movement During Tax Proceedings

At the center is the WhatsApp group "Steuerprüfung," which Martin Sellner created on September 30, 2018. On October 3, 2018, Sellner and another IB member were questioned by the tax authority from 1:30 p.m. to 3:12 p.m. That same evening at 7:31 p.m., the then FPÖ city councilor Heinrich Sickl wrote in the group: "Ich werde morgen mit jemanden reden" and asked whether the tax office in question was located in Styria or in Vienna. Sellner replied that he would be liable "als Obmann natürlich für alles mit dem Privatvermögen."

The Role of Heinrich Sickl

In the following days, Sickl specified his offer. He assured Sellner that his contact was "Das ist kein Politiker, sondern hoher Beamter der Finanz." On October 6, he announced: "ich treffe kommende Woche jemanden mit dem ich die Vereinssache und Gemeinnützigkeit bespreche." The topic-related communication ended after October 24, 2018.

In a voice message in October 2018, Sellner described that the inspectors would "eher konservativ sein und auch die IB eher mögen" and asked rhetorically: "Fluthilfe, ja, Geschenke an Waisenhäuser, Obdachlosenhilfe der ganze Kram." There was "ne kleine Chance eventuell die Gemeinnützigkeit zu behalten." Sellner listed possible evidence for charitable status: "Vortragsveranstaltungen und Waisenhilfe, Fluthilfe und so was in der Richtung, Kastanienbraten und so."

Advice From the Inspector

The investigations against the Identitarian Movement had already been underway since spring 2018, when Identitarian officials had to stand trial on charges including forming a criminal organization under the so-called Mafia paragraph. In total, investigations were conducted against 22 individuals and four associations, including Martin Sellner personally, on suspicion of tax evasion. The IBÖ was at the time in the focus of tax authorities and the public prosecutor's office over alleged tax evasion – involving 100,000 euros. The case also concerned alleged sham companies and the sale of merchandise items.

The allegations: "Vorgeworfen wurde ihnen, dass Spenden über Vereine gesammelt und Auszahlungen dann an die Führungsspitze, also auch Sellner, gingen." According to "Standard," the IBÖ took in around 704,000 euros between 2012 and 2017. On October 12, 2018, Sellner wrote: "Ich hafte als Obmann natürlich für alles mit dem Privatvermögen." He expected: "Sie werden uns wohl die Gemeinnützigkeit entziehen und wir müssen dann Steuern nachzahlen (…) Alles andere würde mich wundern."

Reactions and Open Questions

Despite the investigations, no one was ultimately charged. "Die IBÖ stand damals wegen mutmaßlicher Steuerhinterziehung – es ging um 100.000 Euro – im Fokus von Finanzbehörden und Staatsanwaltschaft." Which "hoher Beamter der Finanz" Sickl claims to have contacted remains unknown to this day. The identity of the inspector who allegedly went "auf ein Bier" with the Identitarians is also, according to "Standard," unclear.

The domestic intelligence agency warned internally that it could "nicht ausgeschlossen werden, dass die finanzbehördlichen Verfahren verzögert, zum Stillstand gebracht oder allenfalls nicht objektiv geführt wurden." Investigators described the matter as "mehr als aufklärungswürdig." The documents had previously been submitted to the Interior and Justice Ministries as well as to members of the BVT subcommittee in Parliament.

The Finance Ministry stated upon inquiry that it must first consult various organizational units and would respond "ehestmöglich." It announced an internal review of the matter. The case was forwarded to the Federal Bureau of Anti-Corruption (BAK). "Standard" co-authors Colette M. Schmidt and Fabian Schmid dated the report to July 23, 2026.

Both Sellner and Sickl declined to comment on the chats. "Ich werde morgen mit jemanden reden" – Sickl's message stands as exemplary for a series of offers of help whose success remains in the dark. The "Standard" report states verbatim: "Prüfer soll Identitären mit Finanzverfahren geholfen haben."