A cold shower amidst a heat wave by the Tax Agency

All taxpayers will be forced to take yet another cold shower next week, as the General Secretariat for Information Systems begins sending out the slips containing all the extra contributions of the mid-term program.

By decision of the deputy minister of finance, Pantelis Economou, the procedures for dispatching the slips are accelerated, since the economy team are counting on the collection of contributions in order to reverse the negative trend in revenue, close the "black hole" of 4 billion euros and present a balanced budget at the end of the year to avoid the "red" card of the Troika, which will be accompanied by additional tax measures.

It is noteworthy that based on the mid-term predictions for the period of 2011-2015, and according to government estimates, public funds will receive more than 9 billion euros from the special solidarity contribution, the extra contribution to objective costs and the trade tax:

-   1,38 billion each year from special solidarity contribution
-   about 2 billion each year from the trade tax
-   150 million only for this year from the extra contribution on cars, yachts, planes, pools etc.

The long-term unemployed and those with severe disabilities are excluded from the special contributions, while the compensation due to termination of work will not be taken into account. Of course, those taxpayers will not escape the suffering, as they will receive special slips by the GSIS and will have to go through their tax office, providing the necessary documents to avoid payment of contributions.

The amount of debt is ensured as a whole and is payable in six equal monthly installments. Each installment may not be less than 300 euros, except for the last one. There will be a 5% discount in case of payment of the total amount due within the period of the first installment, even for amounts lower than 300 euros.