Greek Finance Minister confirmed that the country conducts negotiations and discussions with Switzerland in order to sign an agreement for the taxation of Greek citizens’ savings in Swiss banks.
Speaking at a press conference for the presentation of the three-year National Operational Program to combat tax evasion, Giorgos Papakonstantinou said that the ministry has a list of Greek depositors and proceeds with the signing of an agreement with Switzerland on the taxation of savings.
Asked by Capital.gr whether the revenues have been already calculated, FinMin replied that this has not been done yet, and he couldn’t disclose any further information whether there are names of Greek lawmakers included in the list.
Giorgos Papakonstantinou set reducing of tax evasion as a prerequisite to lower the tax burden of individuals and legal entities in Greece. The government is willing to reduce tax rates for employees and enterprises, but to do this, it must deal with tax evasion, said the minister. Based on rough estimates, Greece loses €10-15b annually through tax evasion.
The program expects revenues of €11.8b by 2013.
Additionally, the Minister said that the names of taxpayers who have outstanding debts to the Treasury will be published.
In addition, Giorgos Papakonstantinou announced the radical reorganization of tax network across the country, with the merger of tax offices in order to remain one office per district. About 2,500 taxmen and 500 administrative employees will be transferred in position, in which they will be indeed useful.
Around 200 out of 289 tax offices will be merged or shutdown after the summer, with a number of responsibilities transferred to citizens’ service centres (KEP).
Finally, Giorgos Papakonstantinou said that there is no need for a debt restructuring, there is no need for a haircut on Greece΄s debt.
"The sustainability of the Greek debt depends on, first, having stable primary budget surpluses...second, on the pace of growth, and third on the cost of borrowing", he concluded.
Speaking at a press conference for the presentation of the three-year National Operational Program to combat tax evasion, Giorgos Papakonstantinou said that the ministry has a list of Greek depositors and proceeds with the signing of an agreement with Switzerland on the taxation of savings.
Asked by Capital.gr whether the revenues have been already calculated, FinMin replied that this has not been done yet, and he couldn’t disclose any further information whether there are names of Greek lawmakers included in the list.
Giorgos Papakonstantinou set reducing of tax evasion as a prerequisite to lower the tax burden of individuals and legal entities in Greece. The government is willing to reduce tax rates for employees and enterprises, but to do this, it must deal with tax evasion, said the minister. Based on rough estimates, Greece loses €10-15b annually through tax evasion.
The program expects revenues of €11.8b by 2013.
Additionally, the Minister said that the names of taxpayers who have outstanding debts to the Treasury will be published.
In addition, Giorgos Papakonstantinou announced the radical reorganization of tax network across the country, with the merger of tax offices in order to remain one office per district. About 2,500 taxmen and 500 administrative employees will be transferred in position, in which they will be indeed useful.
Around 200 out of 289 tax offices will be merged or shutdown after the summer, with a number of responsibilities transferred to citizens’ service centres (KEP).
Finally, Giorgos Papakonstantinou said that there is no need for a debt restructuring, there is no need for a haircut on Greece΄s debt.
"The sustainability of the Greek debt depends on, first, having stable primary budget surpluses...second, on the pace of growth, and third on the cost of borrowing", he concluded.
