Prevention is everyone’s responsibility We shed light on combatting the shadow economy

Straw men hide shadow economy activities – don’t agree to be a straw man ›

9.3.2026 

Straw man arrangements are used in the shadow economy and criminal activity, but they are also common in artificial arrangements aimed at circumventing legislation or official supervision. Such arrangements can lead to consequences for the straw person, the actual operator and others who assist in carrying out the scheme. Preventing abuse is everyone’s responsibility.  

Criminals lure young people in with promise of easy money ›

20.4.2026 The Tax Administration

The rikoksenaraha.fi website has been set up to help young people identify organised crime, featuring information presented in a way that appeals to them. The campaign website rikoksenaraha.fi features young people’s stories in the form of a video game, the ‘Money Crimes/Warning Signs’ podcast series, and information about the phenomenon.  

Exploitation ingrained in society – indifference or a lack of resources? ›

20.4.2026 HEUNI

Labour exploitation is strongly present in public debate in Finland, but for authorities working in supervision and crime prevention the phenomenon has been recognised since the early 2010s. The blog post examines the demanding operating environment of public authorities, international good practices, and practical ways to prevent labour exploitation more effectively.

The big picture of the grey economy and economic crime

The website on the grey economy and economic crime www.grey-economy-crime.fi provides summarised information on the grey economy and economic crime in Finland. The website is maintained through the cooperation of the authorities engaged in combating the grey economy. Further information on the authorities is available under the section About this website.

The website will support the decision-making of authorities and political decision-makers. The information it provides will enhance society’s capabilities to react rapidly to the phenomena and harm associated with the grey economy and economic crime. In addition, the website will provide companies and citizens with information on how to act or protect themselves against such harm.

The big picture is a combination of various aspects

The website provides an overview of the topical phenomena of the grey economy and economic crime comprising the observations of a number of different authorities. In addition, the website offers both domestic and international estimates on the scope and amount of the grey economy and economic crime. The website also provides information on the impact of action taken to prevent the grey economy and economic crime based on the statistics of authorities, including company audits and their results. The website also follows the progress of various projects included in the operational programme concerning the grey economy and economic crime.

 

Key figures
Grey economy
Resources
Input and cases
The authorities’ resource monitoring tool shows, in a whole new way, the amount of available resources in annual work units, processed cases, and cases waiting for processing. The data are updated three times a year.
€1 billion
Value of undeclared work
The annual value of undeclared work is estimated to be €900–1,400 million in Finland. Undeclared work also causes losses of taxes and social insurance contributions totalling €300–480 million.
2 788 pcs
New economic crimes
Last year, the Police of Finland recorded a total of 2,788 new economic crimes. This is 6 % more than in 2024.
45 % no
Residence permit for entrepreneurs
The permit is granted in two stages: the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY) makes an interim decision before the final decision is made by the Finnish Immigration Service.
€17 million
Falsified receipts
Using falsified receipts in accounting are a typical means of tax evasion in the shadow economy. Fraudsters use falsified receipts to free up funds for undeclared payroll or hidden dividends.

About this website

The website

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