Italy has a stockpile of 1,206 billion euros of uncollected taxes, some dating back to the start of the millennium, and much of that money is impossible to pocket, Deputy Economy Minister Maurizio Leo said on Wednesday.
"They say we are doing favors and amnesties on tax collection, but the opposite is true," Leo told a conference in the Lower House on taxation.
"Our approach is to reach out to the honest taxpayer and be unbending with those who evade taxes, those who commit fraud, those who fail to submit tax returns.
"Today the Inland Agency has 1,206 billion euros in its inventory, which dates back to 2000.
"We have said we have to stage an operation of truth and appoint a commission to examine this stockpile.
"If we cannot collect it, we must make decisions.
"If we have (unpaid) bills that date back to 2000 and cannot be collected, a decision will have to be made.
"We want to reach out to the taxpayer who cannot pay.
"This approach has brought us rewards" he said, adding that there are cent programs to give incentives to people to settle disputes generated 6.8 billion euros for this year.
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