Tax cheating rampant on Greek islands: report

Article reports on alleged widespread tax evasion amongst businesses in Greece, especially in tourist areas.

Tax evasion at tourist resorts continued to be a key problem for Greek authorities, as more than 1,200 checks by the Financial Crimes Squad (SDOE) between 6-18 August 2013 on islands and other destinations revealed that one in two businesses was cheating the state.

Charis Theocharis, Greece’s highest official in charge of public revenues, told EurActiv on the 23 October 2013 that checks on offshore companies would intensify as the Greek Finance Ministry turns the screw on tax evasion.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Šemeta: Tax evasion costing Greece 5% of its GDP http://www.europeansources.info/record/semeta-tax-evasion-costing-greece-5-of-its-gdp/

New York Times, 12.05.13: Greek Crackdown on Tax Evasion Yields Little Revenue http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/13/business/global/greek-tax-crackdown-yields-little-revenue.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

Kathimerini, 22.08.13: SDOE checks reveal high rate of tax evasion at resorts http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_1_22/08/2013_515125

EurActiv, 24.10.13: Athens will be ‘merciless’ on tax evaders, says Greek ‘taxman’ http://www.euractiv.com/euro-finance/athens-merciless-tax-evaders-gre-news-531269

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