Tax payment discipline has not relaxed significantly despite the economic crisis, however, tax revenues have fallen slightly, while cross-border tax fraud has increased, participants of a meeting of the heads of six countries’ tax offices said at a press conference in Visegrad (NW of Budapest) on Wednesday.
The presidents of the tax offices of “the Visegrad four” as well as Slovenia and Austria discussed current issues of tax administration as well as forms of regional cooperation and the impacts of the economic crisis.
APEH President Janos Szikora said that a similar conference was held last spring in Bratislava, but then only Slovenia joined the V4 group. This conference can also be regarded at the creation of the “V6″ group, Mr Szikora added,
Recently, joint audits were carried out in seven countries with the Italian tax authority joining, Mr Szikora said, giving an example of mutual information exchange. As a result of these audits, the Hungarian tax office found unpaid tax of HUF 3.723bn, while the Italian partner revealed tax difference of EUR 20m.
“As a result of these audits, the Hungarian tax office found unpaid tax of HUF 3.723bn”
Jees, lets face it, they wouldn’t have to look very far. No doubt there was an endless stream of meetings with tea and biscuits for those poor auditors. With a black market estimated around 30% GDP and a GDP of about HUF 30000bn, it’s kinda like looking for a needle in a needle-stack.
What’s that? I hear you say. Lower tax so that it is reasonable, enforce payment, reduce the black market (because it’s not worth dodging tax) and then everything will be ok.
BINGO !!!
More taxes! That will cure everything! Back to communism! Little
Magyarorszag needs a 5% tax rate. Thats it. Some pay 50% in
magyarorszag. Thats ridiculous. When will they learn?