Debtors, tax evaders to be probed for money laundering

Anyone owing more than 10,000 euros to the state and who has found to have evaded taxes in excess of 40,000 euros will henceforth automatically be suspected of money laundering, according to a Finance Ministry circular issued on Friday.

The circular, which was sent to all tax offices, also stipulates that the country’s money laundering agency will be notified of cases involving taxpayers who have not submitted their annual declarations of income or who have submitted inaccurate declarations leading to the evasion of taxes in excess of 15,000 euros. The same approach will be taken in cases involving inaccurate value added tax returns or the issuing of bogus tax details.