How to get PayPal statements from 2018 - 2020 from PayPal if account got closed - for tax office?

[JohnLocke]

For documentation of transactions that include payments to one of our PayPal accounts, we need to have account statements. The tax authorities will not accept it if we do not present them when they are to be recorded as income in our company from that time.

I have tried writing and calling PayPal over the last six months, but nothing has been done; they are completely unresponsive to such inquiries. What does one do in such a situation?

It should be noted that even though we have statements from several months (not entire year) of the years in question, the tax authorities still refuse to accept that they are true and claim they are fictitious.

 

[JohnnyDoe]

You should write an affidavit explaining the situation. And in the future avoid having to deal with tax authorities.

 

[JohnLocke]

Thank you, I will try that. It is a case from the past, as you can see, and the tax authorities have gone completely mad. They have fabricated stories and denied the legitimacy of an entire business even though it has paid taxes and VAT and had audited financial statements. They are insane.

 

[pixbix]

Thank you, I will try that. It is a case from the past, as you can see, and the tax authorities have gone completely mad. They have fabricated stories and denied the legitimacy of an entire business even though it has paid taxes and VAT and had audited financial statements. They are insane.

what country is that?

 

[JohnLocke]

It's Denmark! Now I will try what @JohnnyDoe suggested, and if it doesn't help, then I will have to get a lawyer to write a letter to PayPal's Danish department.

 

[JohnnyDoe]

It's Denmark! Now I will try what @JohnnyDoe suggested, and if it doesn't help, then I will have to get a lawyer to write a letter to PayPal's Danish department.

I thought it was a common law jurisdiction.
I don’t know the Danish system, but I guess it’s like all the other EU civil law systems, based on the principle that you are guilty and a liar until proven otherwise.
Therefore, they will tell you that it is your duty to keep proper accounting and adequate supporting documentation, not PayPal’s fault not to respond. With a honest affidavit you risk admitting your wrongdoing.
It might be better to ignore them and let them chase you if they want - assuming you are now far away from Denmark.

 

[JohnLocke]

I am far away from those scoundrels, but there is a former partner who has gotten into trouble, and Skat (Danish Tax Authority) knows about it, hence they have pursued the case. And you are absolutely right, as I have described before, it is us who must prove that we are right, and it is us who must obtain the information from PayPal. Until then, the Danish Tax Authorities have concocted a false story claiming that no company ever existed and it's all personal fortune which has been transferred to my partner as "disguised dividends."

A lot of money has already been spent on lawyers and accountants, not to mention time. I will pursue this case because it is a vile treatment that the tax has given us, and the fact that an authority can just fabricate lies is disastrous for a democratic society.

 

[JohnnyDoe]

I will pursue this case because it is a vile treatment that the tax has given us, and the fact that an authority can just fabricate lies is disastrous for a democratic society.

I agree in principle, but unfortunately even if you win (and it will be a Phyrric victory) this will have zero practical impact on the authority.
Giving them the silence treatment is the best form of resistance.

 

[JohnLocke]

I agree in principle, but unfortunately even if you win (and it will be a Phyrric victory) this will have zero practical impact on the authority.
Giving them the silence treatment is the best form of resistance.

It is not because I think the tax authorities will change anything, on the contrary, they have been trained to fabricate fictitious stories and lie as much as they can to win a case at any cost.

But the problem is that if we don't get it under control, they will have ruined my partner's life forever, and I refuse to be part of that. They are completely indifferent to the human aspect of the Danish tax system, everyone is just a number like the ones used for cattle, and then it's just a number you turn on or off. And they call this a socialist state - I almost fall over laughing when I see them on TV.

 

[JohnnyDoe]

It is not because I think the tax authorities will change anything, on the contrary, they have been trained to fabricate fictitious stories and lie as much as they can to win a case at any cost.

But the problem is that if we don't get it under control, they will have ruined my partner's life forever, and I refuse to be part of that. They are completely indifferent to the human aspect of the Danish tax system, everyone is just a number like the ones used for cattle, and then it's just a number you turn on or off. And they call this a socialist state - I almost fall over laughing when I see them on TV.

Isn’t possible to allocate the lawyers budget (which can be huge) to an escape plan for your partner? Does she really want to keep living in that hell?

 

[JohnLocke]

Isn’t possible to allocate the lawyers budget (which can be huge) to an escape plan for your partner? Does she really want to keep living in that hell?

Sadly not, it's complicated as hell. God knows I'm trying to make this puzzle fit together.

 

[JohnnyDoe]

Sometimes it’s better to go straight to court instead of trying to reason with the tax authority, if you are lucky you will find a good judge. Your lawyers might also be able to buy time with some procedural matters, and you could use that time to build an escape plan.

 

[daniels27]

Are you BrezelBob?

Kontoauszüge nach dem das Konto geschlossen wurde? - PayPal Community

As far as I understand is PayPal regulated in Luxemburg and they are by law required to keep bank account statements for up to 10 years. I personally would try to reach out to them by phone and if necessary with a lawyer. I sent you the contact I had at PayPal in a PM, not sure if it helps, but maybe worth a call.

You may even try the GDPR route, which in many cases is a very effective way to get access to such data.

 

[JohnLocke]

Are you BrezelBob?
Kontoauszüge nach dem das Konto geschlossen wurde? - PayPal Community

No not at all :

Thank you very much for the PM and details, will try that as well.

Your lawyers might also be able to buy time with some procedural matters, and you could use that time to build an escape plan.

Good hint. Just so you know they may be watching this forum and thread once it get their attention

 

[JohnnyDoe]

Good hint. Just so you know they may be watching this forum and thread once it get their attention

ok, I will free up some time for another court appearance

 

[JohnLocke]

After several request I got in touch with PayPal's legal department, final they promise to get all over to us within 1 -3 days - I believe it is a standard answer, however, they were very responsive at least yesterday.

I don't understand why they don't make this standard in their system to be able to go back at least 5 years!

Will update here if PayPal indeed send what they promised within the next 3 days, I assume we speak business days, now it is weekend soon, so it will take some extra days.

 

[mytoofood]

How did you reach out to PayPal ? Do you received the statements, I'm in similar situation needing for 2020 and 2021 but no response from PayPal

 

[JohnLocke]

As far as I understand is PayPal regulated in Luxemburg and they are by law required to keep bank account statements for up to 10 years.

You are totally right, and after I contacted their support suddenly last Friday the statements where send to me.

They are sent from Luxembourg, but I asked for all transactions from 2018 up until 2020. What they then send are transactions only for December every year!!! I don't understand how they could misunderstand that we needed all transactions when we clearly stated it. Now I'm crossing my fingers that they will bother to send what we need.

 

[turmpy]

So PayPal is cooperative in your case? and who are you contacting there to get them do all this?

 

[JohnLocke]

I will take the liberty of updating this thread for others who are in similar situations and need account statements from PayPal old than the obligated 3 years!

For EU residents, PayPal is only allowed to retain your information for a maximum of 5 years. Therefore, they will refuse to provide information about your account older than this period, simply telling you that it is not possible because they do not have access to it.

You need to be incredibly persistent if you want the information they obviously have. They are an American company, and they keep all data they have ever received. This data is very valuable and can be sold, just a quick tip.

As an EU citizen, your information is stored in PayPal's Luxembourg branch, and you should expect it to be difficult to get in touch with them. However, it is possible if you create a sense of urgency. For example, you could say that both the tax authorities and the police are after you and you need those account statements.

If you get one of those smart-aleck schoolboys who often sit in PayPal support, at least in Denmark, hang up. They are ignorant, rude, and will lie directly to you. You will get nothing from talking to such an immature person.

Call again until you get an adult on the line and explain the situation. Speak politely, seem distressed and desperate about the situation, and mirror their behavior. Suddenly, they will open up, and you can get your account statements.

We spent 4 weeks on this process, but eventually, it succeeded.

I hope this can help someone.