'Times are changing, pay your taxes', euro zone chief tells corporations

Sat Sep 10, 2016 11:50am EDT


Reuters

By Francesco Guarascio and Jason Hovet | BRATISLAVA
Multinational companies should refrain from tax-avoidance practices and pay their fair share, the head of euro zone finance ministers said on Saturday in a new endorsement of the European Union's fight against tax-dodging.

In the wake of the 'Panama Papers' revelations of widespread tax-avoidance practices, Brussels has toughened up its drive for fairness by tightening controls and adopting stricter rules.

The recent shock multi-billion euro tax demand on Apple (AAPL.O) was part of that trend as the EU also drafts plans for a common corporate tax base and a single European blacklist for tax havens.

Cheap Cigarettes Are Burning Greece's Finances

By Nikos Chrysoloras

February 8, 2016 — 2:01 AM EET

On an unremarkable morning on Stournari street in downtown Athens, just a few blocks away from the epicenter of every riot the city has seen during its recent crisis years, two men of Asian origin politely and openly hawk cigarettes to passersby.

The illegal packs of R.G.D.-branded smokes cost 1.50 euros ($1.70) each, less than half the price of 20 Marlboros or Prince at one of Greece’s ubiquitous street kiosks.

As Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras walks another tightrope between creditor demands for additional belt tightening and a social backlash, the scene exposes an unhealthy truth: Greeks could smoke, drink and gamble their way out of their next financial hole, if only they were taxed on all of it.

Greece Seeks German Know-How to Tackle Tax Evasion

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ATHENS, Greece — Jan 16, 2016, 4:04 PM ET

Greece has turned to a German state government to seek help in combating tax evasion.

Greek tax officials, initially numbering about 50, will be trained by the tax authorities of North Rhine-Westphalia, a state noted for its success in persuading German citizens to repatriate capital they had whisked abroad to avoid taxation. Their efforts have resulted in 1 billion euros ($1.09 billion) in extra revenue since 2010.

What Greece Can Learn From Israel About Tax Cheats

4 FEB 24, 2015 12:55 PM EST

 Bloombergview

By Stephen Mihm

Among the most closely watched commitments made by Greece to obtain a four-month extension of aid from its official creditors is a promise to overhaul its notoriously inefficient system of tax collection and administration.

Skeptics, particularly among the law-abiding citizens of other European countries who believe their tax euros will be wasted on the continued bailout of Greece, will have hard time buying this pledge.  

Greek shipping magnate ordered to pay $1.5M to IRS

(Published by the Washington Post)

By Associated Press, Thursday, January 16, 12:18 AM

NEW ORLEANS — A Greek shipping magnate who remained a fugitive for more than a decade was ordered Wednesday to pay more than $1.5 million in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service after pleading guilty in New Orleans to filing a false tax return.

U.S. District Judge Helen Berrigan also on Wednesday sentenced 78-year-old Lucas Ktistakis to three years of supervised release and ordered him to pay a $10,000 fine. Ktistakis had faced up to three years in prison, but Berrigan sentenced him to time he already has served in custody since his February 2013 arrest in Germany.

Parliament Votes to Indict Ex-Official in Greece

July 15, 2013

By NIKI KITSANTONIS

ATHENS — Greek lawmakers voted early Tuesday in favor of indicting former Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou over the way he handled a list of more than 2,000 Greeks with Swiss bank accounts, a possible source of much-needed tax revenue that was never exploited by the authorities.

In a secret ballot that followed a contentious debate, a majority of lawmakers in Greece’s 300-seat Parliament said that Mr. Papaconstantinou should stand trial on three charges: breach of trust, tampering with an official document and breach of duty.

IMF: Greece making progress but must do more on taxes

By Anna Yukhananov

10:04am EDT

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Greece has made progress in reducing government debt and improving its competitiveness, but needs to follow through on structural reforms to ensure its economy recovers, the IMF said on Monday after a mission visit to the country.

Technology whizz kid tackles Greek tax evasion

By Harry Papachristou

ATHENS | Fri Feb 15, 2013 4:18am EST

(Reuters) - Greece is pinning its hopes of boosting revenue from an antiquated tax system beset by massive evasion on Harry Theoharis, a boyish-looking 42-year-old who describes himself as an "I.T. monkey".

Most Greeks say government crackdown on tax evaders failing: poll

ATHENS | Sat Dec 29, 2012 3:51pm EST

(Reuters) - More than two-thirds of Greeks say their government is failing to fight tax evasion, a poll showed on Saturday, a major focus of popular discontent along with austerity measures imposed to unlock bailout aid.

Greek tax cheats list altered to hide names -court sources

Fri Dec 28, 2012 11:39am EST

* Relatives of ex-minister were removed from accused tax dodgers list -officials

* Former finance minister denies tampering with list

* PASOK party expels him over "Lagarde List" affair

By Harry Papachristou

Greek prosecutors send Swiss account list to parliament

ATHENS | Thu Dec 27, 2012 2:11pm GMT

(Reuters) - Greek prosecutors sent a list of possible tax cheats to parliament, court sources said, in a case that has highlighted Athens' failure to crack down on the tax evasion that has contributed to the country's financial crisis.