Filenews 18 March 2022 - Eleftheria Paizanos
Taxes totalling €2.76 billion are owed by 218,901 taxpayers, according to the Department of Taxation's quarterly progress report for the fourth quarter of 2021. Of these, 181,988 persons have debts of €2.15 billion in direct taxation and 36,913 persons owe VAT of €606.2 million. Of the total amount of debts, the amount immediately due for which no measures have been taken so far amounts to €773.3 million.
Based on the data of the Department of Taxation, out of the total debts, an amount of €1.51 billion. present a temporary or permanent impediment to recovery.
Specifically, taxes in excess of €167 million for VAT debts will never be collected. According to the report, 18,860 persons, mainly legal and self-employed, owe the Department €167.7 million, but it is duly judged that there is great difficulty in collecting them, due to the fact that the debtors have been cancelled from the VAT Register. That is, these debtors do not exist as legal entities, as businesses have been closed down, or for some other reasons. The average VAT debt corresponding to each debtor reaches €8.9 million.
They try to collect but...
In addition to the above debts for which the state will not receive a cent, other taxes of €1.51 billion. present a temporary or permanent impediment to recovery.
- A total of 9,166 taxpayers owe taxes of €93.9 million. The department has made efforts, without identifying the debtors, as they are abroad, or have died, and the imposition of measures has failed and there are no realistic prospects for repayment.
- Another 2,077 taxpayers have debts of €183.2 million. For these debts there are no prospects for realisable assets, sources of income, access to lending or other means to satisfy the debt.
- For taxes €508.2 million there is a problem in recovery due to an appeal or objection to the Minister of Finance and the Supreme Court.
- Another 29,722 taxpayers have debts of €564.2 million. The amounts are uncollectible after the completion of the bankruptcy and winding-up proceedings.
Legal measures were taken for debts of €461.2 million.
According to the relevant data, debts amounting to €103.2 million. are under settlement, in instalments, and are monitored. Specifically, 298 persons with debts of €17.3 million. in direct taxation, i.e. income tax, defence, property tax, etc., as well as 3,680 persons who owe VAT of €85.8 million. are under a phased repayment agreement with monthly instalments.
At the same time, for debts of €461.2 million. judicial measures have been taken. A total of 6,099 taxpayers have been brought to justice for debts to the Tax Department. Of these, 4,760 persons owe direct taxes of €387.2 million. and 1,139 taxpayers owe VAT of €74 million.
They blocked accounts of €1.3 million.
It is noted that debts amounting to €288.8 million have been handled, taking advantage of the new powers granted to the Superintendent of Taxation since 2014 and relating to the registration of a lien in immovable property, as well as the freezing and seizure of amounts held in bank accounts. Below MEME are the properties of 5,161 taxpayers, with debts of €287.4 million. The measure of freezing or seizing deposits in bank accounts was used for €1.3 million. Finally, an amount of €383.8 million. is deducted from debts due to double counting between categories while €14,949 relates to recent tax certificates for which the time limit for objection or appeal has not been exhausted.
