THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The Greek finance ministry has said it will investigate wealthy Greeks in London for potential tax evasion as part of a wider effort to improve abysmal levels of revenue collection.
With estimates that the government could run out of money early next month, caretaker finance minister George Zanias summoned the heads of the main tax offices to a meeting on Wednesday.
He told them that 550 Greek owners of property in Britain would come under the “the cross-checking microscope” in order to establish if they had long-term outstanding debts to the state.
Rich Greeks have been parking their money in the London the property market at an accelerating rate over the past two years as their country has slipped closer to the abyss. According the estate agent Savills, enquiries from Greeks about luxury London homes rose by 40 per cent in April.
Reports in the Greek press said the Athens finance ministry had received information from the Treasury on property purchases by Greeks.
In a tone of some amazement, one newspaper said these details „even included the tax paid on the purchase“, referring to stamp duty. » | Alex Spillius, in Athens | Friday, June 15, 2012
