The Anglo-Saxon and Germanic countries are usually very good at bringing in their tax receipts and pursue them aggressively.
The consequences in these countries can be pretty severe for tax evasion.
However the Southern European states in particular have countrywide schemes for avoiding taxes, so it becomes a way of life. Hence the huge divide between Spain, Italy and the Northern like Finland, The Netherlands and Germany. Who resent the fact they have to bailout their frivolous European neighbours. For instance in Greece, a common practice would be to buy a house at a knockdown price to avoid a capital gains tax. The rest of the real house value would be reimbursed with a cash payment.
The old saying goes: 'there are two certainties in life - death and taxes.'
The consequences in these countries can be pretty severe for tax evasion.
However the Southern European states in particular have countrywide schemes for avoiding taxes, so it becomes a way of life. Hence the huge divide between Spain, Italy and the Northern like Finland, The Netherlands and Germany. Who resent the fact they have to bailout their frivolous European neighbours. For instance in Greece, a common practice would be to buy a house at a knockdown price to avoid a capital gains tax. The rest of the real house value would be reimbursed with a cash payment.
The old saying goes: 'there are two certainties in life - death and taxes.'