Peter's Viewpoint

While many criticize the Greek people as being tax cheats, I commend them on how they have managed to outsmart the governments of Greece over the past 30 years.

Many foreigners and news reporters claim as if they know that Greeks do not pay taxes while not looking at the number and amounts of taxes that the government charges.
I hate to say it but if someone says that this is so then they have been comparing apples to oranges.

The fact is that taxation in Greece but also throughout Europe has remained similar to what amounts to a multitude of smaller taxes levied upon the people.

Summary of taxation for the year ending 2011
Yearly, Income tax based on an average income of 20,000 Euros, 125 Euros
Yearly, Road tax based on 1600 cc engine size, 265 Euros
Yearly, Social Responsibility or Solidarity tax based on income, 450 Euros
Yearly, Special tax on Supplemental Retirement, based on income, 200 Euros
Yearly, Special tax on Retirees younger than 60, based on income, 100 Euros
Bi-monthly Special tax on the electric bill KW hours by .00195, averaging 5 Euros
Bi-monthly Local City tax, on electric bill by sq. meters of living space, averaging 50 Euros
Bi-monthly Television tax, on electric bill by sq. meters of living space, averaging 17 Euros
Monthly, Apartment Rental tax based on stamp tax, 3.6% based on rent
Daily, Sales tax, currently 23%, including food taxed at 11%
Note: many of the special taxes are a percentage by monthly income.

With the exception of the Solidarity tax, the Special taxes on Retirement, and the Bi-monthly Special tax all of the others have been effective over the last 30 years that I have lived here.

This does not include the multitude of taxes paid by business owners that have had to pay kick-back to the government through the tax agents over the years or face the threat of being shut down.

The difference now is that 80% of small and medium businesses are now closed down meaning that the government will suck the money out of the blood of those who still have a job and the retirees.

Why the Greek government impedes the competition of Greek businesses
Wage earners pay 16% towards social security taxes while employers pay 28% towards social security taxes, totaling 44% towards social security.

Manufacturing taxes at time of production, e.g. medicinal alcohol is charged different taxes during production and then sales taxes are added.

They also charge businesses with a so called Assessed tax that is calculated without any physical proof of audit basically a number that is magically conjured up by the tax agent and which can be anywhere from 500 to 1,000,000 Euros based on “how they how they like your face or the size of your business” as is said.

Apart from the facts that Greeks DO PAY TAXES, they have never received the services that they should in reciprocation from any of the governments to date.

What’s worse is that the taxes that we are currently paying to hopefully save the country may in fact become a worthless effort if the country formally declares bankruptcy.

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.