A cooperative and non-vexatious relationship between tax payers and the taxman benefits the State, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Saturday.
"Last year Italy's revenue agency certified an additional 26 billion euros in tax income. When you do not disturb and, on the contrary, try to lend a hand to those who produce the wealth, the state benefits," said Meloni during the signing of the Development and Cohesion Agreement between the government and the Umbria regional authorities in Bastia Umbra.
"In the same year, the revenue agency also says it set a new record in collecting evaded taxes. An extraordinary figure," he continued.
Early last month the director of Italy's inland revenue and tax collection agencies Ernesto Maria Ruffini said the State had landed 24.7 billion euros in 2023 as a result of efforts to collect unpaid taxes, 4.5 billion euros more than the previous year.
Last year the fight against tax evasion also led to the recovery of a further 6.7 billion euro for other tax beneficiaries such as the national social security institute INPS and municipalities, taking the total amount collected to 31 billion euro, he added.
In Umbria Meloni said it is important to take "a different approach" to tax collection, one that is "cooperative" and "notvexatious" otherwise "the State risks becoming an enemy".
"If you're in difficulty I'll meet you half way, if you insist on cheating then I have to be firm in my response," she added.
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