Greek government is installing 400,000 ‘Point of Sale’ software systems – computerised cash registers that provide sophisticated financial, sales and inventory reports. These are designed to be compatible with the EU’s Digital Single Market (DSM) policy, and to minimise the opportunities for tax fraud. The government also plans to apply the new OECD Standard for Automatic Exchange of Information in Tax Matters during 2016: participant countries will cooperate online, notifying tax authorities of assets held or payments made connected with accounts exceeding USD$250,000.
In parallel with these efforts to prevent tax evasion, the Attica-Athens regional administration – which covers the city of Athens, a handful of islands, and several smaller cities including the port of Piraeus – is using digital services to squeeze out opportunities for corruption in public service delivery. Athanassiadis explained that “within 2016 we will have completed the introduction of a digital service system where economic operators will submit requests via their PC or mobile phone, and the request will be monitored and settled online.”
Under these systems, he said, officials will not be able to hasten decisions or provide services in exchange for bribes: “This will simplify bureaucracy and challenge the most popular cause of micro-corruption, which is none other than collateral transactions circumventing legal processes to expedite procedures.”
Links:
Digital Single Market
OECD – Standard for automatic exchange of Financial Account Information on Tax Matters
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