With Accenture (and AI), the IRS wants to detect pools and other undeclared verandahs

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France would not be at the level in the fight against tax fraud, according to a report by the Court of Auditors published on 2 December 2019. The financial court notes that "the results are part of a downward trendYet the tax authorities are constantly creating new tools that can detect fraud.

According to information from Parisian published on 1st December 2019, the Alpes-Maritimes, Charente-Maritime and Drôme use artificial intelligence (AI) software capable of detecting an undeclared construction, in simple aerial view. This tool was made available by the American computer consulting company Accenture under a € 20 million contract.

Track cadastre declaration errors

Specifically, the software identifies anomalies by crossing taxpayer declarations, aerial views and cadastral maps. According to the French daily newspaper, the tool is able to distinguish between a buried pool subject to tax and a non-taxable above ground pool. Ditto for extensions such as verandas. Once the anomalies have been detected, the tax authorities can send a letter to the taxpayer concerned to have their tax return revised. "The first results are very conclusive", rejoices a spokesman for Bercy quoted by The Parisian.

New technologies help the tax authorities

The launch of this experiment dates from the spring of 2019 during a "meeting held discreetly on the premises of the National Directorate of Cadastre in Saint-Germain-en-Laye"In just a few weeks, the software has found about 3,000 untaxed pools in the Alpes-Maritimes.In Drôme – the only department where the experiment is still going – 150 premises not subject to tax have been registered, but after verification they were all tax-exempt buildings.

This is not the first time the tax administration has decided to use new technologies to track down fraudsters. In early November 2019, the National Assembly validated the experimentation of a new tool to massively collect data from Internet users on social networks. The National Commission for Informatics and Liberties (Cnil) was moved by this project which poses "unpublished questions concerning the protection of personal data"Yet, the French seem to welcome these new devices without much fear.In fact, according to an Odoxa poll published November 14, 2019, 69% of respondents see digital innovations a great opportunity to fight against fraud.

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