Premier Giorgia Meloni's government has approved a decree cutting the penalties for tax offenses by up to a third, Deputy Economy Minister Maurizio Leo said after acabinet meeting on Wednesday.
"The government's tax revolution, aimed at building a fairer and more just system for the benefit of citizens and businesses, continues unabated," Leo said, adding that the legislation affects both administrative and criminal penalties for tax offenses.
He said that administrative fines "will be reduced from one-fifth to one-third, bringing them closer to European standards and introducing a principle of greater proportionality".
Leo said 'adjusted rules' would apply in criminal cases where people have not paid their taxes because they were simply unable to and wanted to comply by paying the tax owed fully via installation plans, meaning they would have reduced penalties and interest payments.
But he stressed that the authorities would continue to take at least stance with people who willfully commit tax fraud.
"The State must help honest taxpayers, but it cannot, and mustnot, lower its guard against those who try to pull a fast one," he said.
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