Greece Uses High-Tech Drones To Fight Tax Evasion In Holiday Hotspots (channelnewsasia.com)

Greece is reportedly using drones to fly over boats running day trips on the Aegean in an effort to crack down on rampant tax evasion at holiday hotspots. Channel NewsAsia reports: With the black economy by some accounts representing about a quarter of national output in a country which depends hugely on tourism, Greek authorities are turning to high-tech to stamp out undeclared earnings. Finance ministry tax inspectors and the coast guard launched the drones project on Santorini, an island highly popular with tourists, to check on whether operators offering short day trips were issuing legal receipts to all their passengers. Based on data from the drones, authorities were able to establish how many passengers were on board, then cross-referenced it with declared receipts and on-site inspections. Nine tourist vessels checked were alleged to have not issued a number of receipts, totaling about $29,460. Their owners now face fines.

Comments

Please Say You Weren't Surprised....

[kenwd0elq]

There shouldn't be anything surprising that Greece would use drones to find tax cheats. Remember, they were among the early adopters to use Google Earth to find backyard swimming pools that didn't appear on the tax rolls. Greeks have a very "Catch me if you can!" attitude toward their own tax collectors.

Re:Please Say You Weren't Surprised....

[kiviQr]

Not tax evasion but high taxes that push people to gray market. Especailly that people don't see a point to contribute their tax share since they don't get much out of it. Most of money disapears with bureaucracy and goverment. This is pattern well established around post socialistic countries.

Re:Please Say You Weren't Surprised....

[jezwel]

people don't see a point to contribute their tax share since they don't get much out of it

, That's not very social of these people is it? The whole point is that socialism is like insurance - everyone contributes so that those that need it can draw down on it.

This is pattern well established around post socialistic countries.

ahh so this is what happens when people stop:
a - contributing their fair share (tax evasion), and
b - not taking more than they should (corruption).

Pretty sure that's called 'greed'.

Re: Please Say You Weren't Surprised....

[Anonymous Coward]

They are a somewhat isolated country (few natural resources) in a first-world region

I can think of a couple of other countries (and some tax havens) that are similar to Greece in terms of size, climate & natural resources, however those nations have burgeoning economies.

Secondly, I don't think that part of the world is as first world as you think. Greece didn't belong at the same table as the rest of the founding EU members, but what else can you do when you have a hostile (and larger, and more powerful) enemy who routinely violates your borders? (Turkey)

Greece's economy was horribly (and deliberately) mismanaged for several decades: early retirement, jobs for life, and yes, corruption. (We) Greeks living abroad saw the signs many years ago, knowing the easy lifestyle was unsustainable. Indeed, many of us "alodapoi" (Greeks abroad) were mocked for the hours we put into our careers, and the comparatively little time we spent on recreation. They ain't laughing now. (The young are leaving Greece in droves in search of jobs.)

A non-trivial portion of the adult population was complicit in the dysfunction. I feel sorry for those who weren't but are now suffering as Greece tightens her collective belt in order to reduce the national debt and get to some normalcy. I can't quite bring myself to say "kala na pathoune" ... but I will say ... "ti perimenate"?

Defining 'should'

[DrYak]

Taking more than you "should" is not corruption. {...} Taking more than you "should" is just ensuring you receive the maximum legal ROI and every sane person would do it if they had the brains.

staying within the bound of this "maximum legal" is what the parent poster meant.
once you start getting more than what gour legally are allowed, then you are taking more than you should.

(well, that or your law was brocken in the first place, letting people get more than what's reasonable to keep the system working - which was the opinion of some other EU countries about the situation in Greece)

Capitalism works well because of evolutionary instinct.

but only works for as long there is a clear immediate personal benefit for the individual (i.e.: it's a good way to.get people go to work to earn money)

it doesn't work for long term goals (eg.: building roads and infrastructure), or to help cover risks (the "insurance" aspect as in public healthcare, etc.)

that's why you always need some social programs in anh government.
but those aids need to be well balanced, other wise the Tatcher remark about other people's money might end up applying.

Too much tax results in tax evasion. Surprise!!!

[Anonymous Coward]

A friendly reminder that in Greece VAT is 24%, income tax 22% (until 20.000€ yearly income and then increases), and ~30% for social insurance (health and pension).
With those numbers, wouldn't you try to hide money too?