July 25, 2022

​South Carolina Department of Revenue (SCDOR) agents today arrested a North Carolina couple and charged them with two counts of tax evasion and two counts of failure to file a state tax return or pay a tax.

Natalia Sokil, 46, was of Tryon, NC, was the owner and operator of ESF Management, doing business as European Market LLC, within Spartanburg County. The specialty grocery store had multiple locations in other Upstate counties as well. Andrej Sokil, 54, of Tryon, NC worked and resided in Spartanburg during the time under investigation.

In 2017 and 2018, the couple filed joint Individual Income Tax returns but failed to include her business income of $2,707,322. The couple owed $19,010 in state taxes for tax years 2017 and 2018. They also failed to file returns for tax years 2019 and 2020, during which an investigation found they had taxable income of $1.4 million. They owe state taxes of $29,409 for tax years 2019 and 2020. 

Natalia Sokil also was charged with two counts of operating without a retail license. Warrants allege agents purchased items at two Inman stores in January 2021 and sales tax was charged, though the business did not have a valid license. She was previously convicted of operating without a retail license in Lexington, SC in 2021.

If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison and/or a fine of up to $10,000, plus the cost of prosecution, for each count of tax evasion; and 1 year and/or a fine of up to $10,000 for each count of failure to file, plus the cost of prosecution. Natalia Sokil faces a maximum sentence of 30 days in jail and/or a fine of $200, plus the cost of prosecution for each count of operating without a retail license. Both defendants are being held in the Spartanburg County Detention Center pending a bond hearing.

The SCDOR is committed to everyone paying their fair share. By taking enforcement action against noncompliant taxpayers, the Department seeks to prevent unfairly increasing the tax burden on those who do comply.