Automated sales suppression device

An automated sales suppression device or zapper is a software program that falsifies the electronic records of point of sale (POS) systems for the purpose of tax evasion.

Function

Most jurisdictions levy a sales tax or a value added tax on commercial transactions such as sales in stores or food served in a restaurant. These transactions are now most often recorded by a POS system rather than a mechanical cash register. The POS system records are generally not alterable by the operator and are used as the basis of tax assessments and audits by tax authorities.

Because POS systems are increasingly designed as general purpose computers (as of 2008, 85% worldwide were reported to run Microsoft Windows),[1] arbitrary software can be run on them. A "zapper" is a software program, often run untraceable from a USB flash drive, that accesses the POS system records and allows the owner of a business to alter the records so as to make it credibly appear that fewer transactions have occurred than has actually been the case. This reduces the tax burden on the business, which is generally proportional to the volume of the transactions.

Government responses

The use of zappers is illegal and may be subject to criminal penalties. However, according to a 2008 The New York Times report, governments worldwide have yet to find effective means of preventing their use.[1] A European Union committee on cash register fraud has been established, and legislation mandating tamper-proof POS systems has been proposed in Germany in 2008 (INSIKA) and introduced in Quebec, Canada, on September 1, 2010.[1]

In Canada, legislation aimed at suppressing zappers is in effect since 1 January 2014. A first offence will lead to a $5,000 fine, and subsequent infractions to a $50,000 fine. Persons in possession of zappers could be fined up to $50,000, and developers or sellers up to $100,000.[2]

In Australia, activities involving electronic sales suppression tools that relate to people or businesses that have Australian tax obligations are banned since 4 October 2018, and subject to criminal and administrative penalties.[3]

gollark: Also, we literally cannot support the existing world population with pre-agricultural food acquisition methods, so ~everyone would die.
gollark: And that was while living in a functional industrial society with stuff like water bottles.
gollark: We lost water for a bit because of storm damage to the pipes, and it was very unpleasant.
gollark: It may have good ideas, but I like medicine and running water and computers.
gollark: Spiders aren't really smart enough to do that.

References
  1. Furchgott, Roy (August 29, 2008). "With Software, Till Tampering Is Hard to Find". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-09-02.
  2. "Canada's new rules: Here's what changed for 2014". CTV News. 2014-01-02. Retrieved 2014-01-02.
  3. "Ban on electronic sales suppression tools". Australian Taxation Office. 2018-10-16. Retrieved 2018-10-16.
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