The Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) may have pledged social change but hundreds of large tax evaders continue to dodge the system as though nothing has changed. Greece, at a time of austerity, continues to have different rules for the wealthy as a number of the country’s most affluent taxpayers refuse to hand over even 1% of their dues despite discounts and regulations with new attractive tax rules to encourage those who owe the most to pay up.
The General Secretariat of Public Revenue has already telephoned 23,500 taxpayers who owe from 250,000 to 1.5 million euros in order to encourage them to give what they can so as to save Greece. The tax settlement in 100 installments is particularly elastic with over 400,000 taxpayers already taking advantage. Most of the people who have rushed to exploit the new rules are people who owe just 300-500 euros but who find it difficult to make ends meet, however those who have the money are not willing to budge, prefering instead to not pay up.
Ex-ministers and current deputies, eurodeputies, vice presidents of former government, wives of prime ministers continue to show indifference despite the attractive opportunity offered by the tax settlement. Amongst those who have been called by the Tax Office to pay up are:
1. A member of the Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) – Independent Greeks (ANEL) coalition government that wants funds for his ministry. He states that the economic crisis has financially stripped him of funds even though he used to pay his taxes in the past. For the last few years he has failed to pay taxes and owes 285,000 euros to the tax department. Even with reductions due to the tax settlement, he would need to pay 2,000 euros per month for the next eight and a half years in order to settle his debt.
2. The wife of a former prime minister sold her mansion a few years ago, before the bailout. She owes over 400,000 euros to the tax office. This amount can be reduced if she were to enter the tax settlement, however she has failed to make an application.
3. A Greek eurodeputy that saw his business group crumble over the last decade has left hundreds of workers out onto the streets and owes hundreds of thousands of euros to the tax office. He states that he would do anything to enter the tax settlement, however states that he will have difficulty in meeting the monthly payments depite the high salary he gets from the European Parliament.
4. A former minister known for his huge political change and ownership of real estate owes hundreds of thousands in taxes from laws that he imposed but never paid. He has yet to apply for a tax settlement.
