In an extensive crackdown, authorities in the Centro Habana district closed 15 private businesses, issued 363 fines, conducted 11 forced sales, and revoked two licenses—all within a single day of rigorous inspections, as reported by the Havana government on social media this Thursday.
Global Economy Vice Mayor Ana Regla Marrero presented the outcomes to the Municipal Administration Council, noting that a total of 232 economic entities were scrutinized on August 13 in this part of the capital city.
The multidisciplinary team discovered several common issues, including refusal to accept electronic transfers, setting exorbitant or speculative prices, the absence of visible pricing, and outdated work plans.
Another violation highlighted by the authorities was the use of QR codes linked to personal accounts instead of fiscal bank accounts, a practice they directly label as "tax evasion."
Wider Inspection Campaign Across Havana
The operation in Centro Habana is part of a broader inspection campaign the regime initiated in August, sweeping through each municipality in the capital. Earlier in the month, they announced potential business closures lasting up to three months for repeat offenders.
On Monday, the National Tax Administration Office (ONAT) had already shut down several establishments in Centro Habana for refusing to accept electronic payments, including a business located on Neptuno between Aramburu and Soledad.
Just days before, an inspection in the Plaza de la Revolución resulted in 61 fines, seven project withdrawals, and 25 forced sales in a single day, according to the official portal lahabana.gob.cu.
Nationwide Enforcement and Legal Backing
This crackdown isn't confined to Havana. On the same Thursday, over 200 fines and at least five closures were reported in Sancti Spíritus for pricing violations and improper payment gateway use. Days earlier, a barber in Cauto Cristo, Granma, was fined 16,000 pesos—a sum nearly equivalent to five minimum wages—for failing to present invoices for blades and talc sent by relatives from abroad.
The legal framework supporting these actions is Decree-Law 91/2024, which mandates that self-employed individuals, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and cooperatives operate using electronic channels and fiscal bank accounts, subject to fines ranging from 40 to 100 quotas, suspension, or license cancellation.
Nationally, the Fourth National Fiscal Control Exercise conducted in February 2026 reported 1,085 control actions, 249 million pesos in determined debts, 174 fines totaling over six million pesos, 320 closures, and 11 SMEs embargoed.
Entrepreneurs and self-employed workers have raised concerns, alleging that inspectors operate under quota systems for fines, in a severe economic crisis context where each penalty could equate to several months' income for a self-employed worker.
Understanding the Implications of Business Inspections in Cuba
What are the common violations found during inspections in Centro Habana?
Common violations include refusing electronic payments, setting speculative prices, lacking visible pricing, and using QR codes linked to personal accounts instead of fiscal bank accounts.
What actions can authorities take against non-compliant businesses?
Authorities can impose fines, conduct forced sales, revoke licenses, and even shut down businesses for up to three months if violations are repeated.
How does Decree-Law 91/2024 affect businesses in Cuba?
Decree-Law 91/2024 requires entrepreneurs, SMEs, and cooperatives to use electronic channels and fiscal bank accounts, with penalties for non-compliance ranging from fines to license suspension.