Αρχική Διάλογος για ένα Δίκαιο και Aποτελεσματικό φορολογικό σύστημαΝομοθετικά Μέτρα για την αντιμετώπιση της φοροδιαφυγής / ΕισαγωγήΣχόλιο του χρήστη Poulopulos | 30 Δεκεμβρίου 2009, 10:09
  • Σχόλιο του χρήστη 'Poulopulos' | 30 Δεκεμβρίου 2009, 10:09

    A fair, simple and easy to understand tax system, without exceptions to any group of Greek residents is essential. Tax officials, at every level, must become aware of the laws as they are applied so that they can give the correct information to the public. Presently, taxpayers get different tax answers, depending whom they ask and even accountants are often confused and dont have the right answer for the taxpayer. The system must not change every year and it must have consistency and be even-handed, so the citizen will trust it and know what to expect.There must be less bureaucracy, more simplification and it must be easier to start and run a business. That will mean more investment, less cost for the running of the business and less incentive for the businessperson for tax evasion. Taxation rules should apply to all, Greek residents and non-residents with interests in Greece, the same way to encourage foreign investment and prevent tax evasion. Currently, the latter are not entitled to any tax free income within Greece and pay taxes regardless of the amount they earn in Greece because they are non-residents. This is an unfair practice. Every taxpayer should be entitled to the same rights and priviledges. When taxation is too heavy, it likely will not be followed and the state will lose taxes. If everyone is taxed, individual tax burden will be lighter. Currently, certain categories of people pay very little tax, because they do not declare all income(tradespeople or professionals, like electricians, plumbers, painters, construction workers, labourers, laiki sellers,bakers,lawyers, etc. who rarely give receipts and people often accept this because they do not like to pay the FPA, etc).If there was jail time along with huge fines for those not issuing receipts, it may help. Where applicable, tradespeople and professionals, should be made to keep an up-to-date,daily journal of days, hours and places worked, available for eforia to see at any one day to prevent them hiding their income. In the medical field, doctors in administrative positions use patients to force the government to respond to their demands for specific medication or specific appliances, for example in dialysis, or in cardiosurgery, surgery or orthopedic surgery and get kickbacks from the pharmaceutical suppliers in return. Forming medical committees across the board, not in specific hospitals, to decide on the specific products to buy beforehand, say for the next year, will cost the government less health money and will make certain that no one doctor has a vested financial interest in the choice of medication or appliance. Also, doctors should not be permitted to take medical conference trips paid by pharmaceuticals, something that is currently being done extensively in Greece. Every attempt should be made to prevent pay-as-you go extra fees for doctors on ESI system. In the police force, to prevent financial corruption and under the table bribes to look the other way, the police must be paid well, they must be trained well, they must be above politics and the profession must begin to attract beyond average candidates rather than be seen as the last resort for those who cant get a job elsewhere and want a steady job. Teachers are often pressuring parents to send their children to private lessons with that teacher for which they get paid cash money which are never taxed. Parents want their children to succeed and believe if they pay this money they will get better marks for their children. Teachers in the public school system should not be allowed to teach privately at the risk of being fired and fined and should have to sign such an agreement at the time of employment. Restaurants, hotels, retail establishments etc., particularly in tourist areas, should be forced to post a sample of the correct receipt type at the entrance of their establishment to make sure that citizens ask for the legal type of receipt. Often, they issue receipts which are not recognized by the eforia. Tourists in particular, do not know the difference and these establishments collect and pocket the FPA for themselves. Applications for services (etisis) should be done by the public servant at the particular office when the taxpayer has trouble filling out forms. Hartosima should also be sold only there. Presently, many citizens do not know how to feel out forms and pay outside individuals to do so. These individuals, charge a fee, which they do not declare to the eforia, and charge more for hartosima than the actual hartosima value on the application, and they pocket the difference. Everyone must be expected to declare what they own (pothen eshes) and from now on show yearly how they came to own what they own, with actual receipts. If they do not declare what they own, they cannot sell it or transfer it to someone else. That would prevent them from hiding their properties. Unfortunately, there will always be some tax evasion. But, to avoid this practice, public education on this is essential along with the potential for punishment if it should occur. The public must become a partner to the government and to do this, they must feel that their tax money is not illspent or wasted. They must also feel that the tax laws apply TO ALL and they are interpreted by ALL the same way. There should also be a just, quick and fair appeal process within the tax department (a tax court within the eforia) which will hear any appeals impartially. If they trust the system, they will most likely try to conform and there will be less tax evasion.