Italy to wage war on tax con ‘epidemic’

IF ITALIAN tax returns are to be believed, the average shoe salesman in the prosperous northern city of Bolzano earns €673 per year, while jewellers around the country earn less than primary school teachers.

Romano Prodi’s government has promised to make the battle against tax evasion a top priority and the latest data released by the economy ministry gives an idea of the task it faces.

The data, referring to the 2005 tax returns by the self-employed, among whom evasion is considered particularly rife, made front-page news in weekend newspapers. “Taxes, the big scam,” screamed La Stampa.