Yesterday the Corte dei Conti (Accountants' Court - the supreme controllers of the State finances) released their yearly report.
They said that bribery in the public administration alone costs to the Italian State about 60 G€ every year (accounting both corruzione - private citizens and enterprises offering bribes to public officials - and concussione - public officials directly asking for bribes).
Tax evasion chops off another 100 G€/year from the State treasury.
(sorry, I couldn't google out a link in english)
As a comparison, the last manovra finanziaria (an yearly by-law made to "repair the coffers") costed to the italian taxpayers about 20 G€. If only Italy could cut down bribery and tax evasion by one third, we wouldn't need a manovra finanziaria and simultaneously we could lower taxes or repay our international debt.
So, what's the state of tax evasion and bribery in your country? What do you think it should be done?
As for Italy, I think we should:
a) invest more money and hire more personnel in the Guardia di Finanza (a military corps depending directly from the Ministry of Finances, whose aim is to fight tax evasion);
b) reduce the use of cash and increase the use of traceable payment methods (credit/debt cards, cheques, bank transfers), so the GdF and the Agenzia delle Entrate (the italian Tax Agency) can cross-check payments, living standards, and incomes;
c) tighten the rules for companies to eliminate the "chinese boxes";
d) make the IVA (italian acronym for the VAT) on most (if not all) consumer goods entirely detractable from the taxes: this way the customers will ALWAYS as for the receipt - also, this would reduce inequality in taxation and effectively lower consumer prices;
e) allow the magistrates and the police to use wiretapping and environmental recording a lot more (and not less, like Berlusconi asks) - this would give them a sharp tool against bribery.
My country is a real mess. I'm really looking forward to emigration.
