Economic police officers will change their dress code and adapt it to the holiday mood on the Greek islands, especially the cosmopolitan ones. They will conduct tax evasion controls in hotels, bars, restaurants, music halls and beaches wearing bermuda shorts and bathing suits. They will pretend to be customers, order 2-3 drinks and reveal their real identity if they see no issued receipt on the table.
The auditors will use tricks to check tax compliance and if they find out it is not, they will call in the technical units that will impose fines to tax evaders.
Target is not only tax evasion though but also unregistered labor as many people are hired without social contributions over the summer months
The sweeping controls will focus on holiday resorts, companies renting luxury boats, concerts given by famous singers, private and public marinas and even big hotel complexes. There, there are specific orders to the auditors as there are complaints that a large number of Greek women and foreign women, work as room maids, without social security and registration to tax office and with very low wages.
The action plan for this summer includes targeted scanning of specific business categories, including businesses that operate sunbeds and umbrellas especially at the famous beaches of cosmopolitan islands in the Aegean and the Ionian Sea. Sun-worshipers often pay a hell of a money to enjoy the fine sand and the blue sea but they seldom get a receipt.
Tourists arrivals are expected to hit a new record this summer. Mykonos, Santorini, Crete, Zakynthos are the top holiday destinations for millions of people form all over the world.
Not issuing a receipt causes the state to lose billion in Value Added Tax; not to mention the loss of revenues caused by touristic business owners who declare much less to the tax office.
The plan of the Greek Tax authorities plan is expected to conclude in the next ten days. The action plan against tax evasion and uninsured labor is to go into effect in June and extend for 100 days.
PS I hope, tax auditors will not order alcoholic drinks that will effectively cancel the purpose of tax evasion controls.
once exposed, these parasites need to be sentenced by the people for crimes against humanity. The very term ‘economic crime’ is a cruel joke when bankers and politicians walk free. What they really mean is ‘something we havent stolen yet’.