6 Comments

What taxes should Greece impose to replace the fall in VAT taxes? Perhaps property taxes? Is that relatively simple to enforce?

Expand full comment
author

A reduction in VAT tax does not necessarily imply a reduction in revenues collected from it. Quite the opposite, in fact, if it helps boost production and consumption even further.

Property taxes are already quite high in Greece, so this would not be ideal to do.

Expand full comment

How does the property taxes compare to neighbouring countries? Is it possible to transition that into a land tax instead?

Expand full comment
author

Greece's one is pretty high. I am not sure a transition would be easy (or even possible) at this stage.

Expand full comment

There is a lot of injustice in the Greek tax system and it pushes to dark money and tax evasion .

On the other hand, it surprises me that unlike other countries, wealthy Greeks move their tax residence to the UK ,Monaco or Cyprus but still continue to live in Greece as nobody checks the days spent. This is state enabled tax evasion and fraud. Fictitious residence abroad and unlike checks on Greek residents for updates on their data, no questions are asked once you are declared a κάτοικος εξωτερικού. I find it unacceptable that the Greek tax is fiercely going after the little guys but leaves untouched the big and bigger fish .

Expand full comment
author

The tax system is definitely a big reason as to why people are pushed towards tax evasion.

I think that the problem with fictitious residences is not just a "Greece problem". Many other countries face similar issues with Ultra-High-Net-Worth Individuals (UHNWI).

Expand full comment