From March, the tax authorities will use a new income meter to track down tax evaders and the search will start from the 2009 tax year. The new system of the Revenue Agency will be used to compare lifestyles and income on the basis of over 100 items of expenditure: from petrol to boats, from jewels to pay TV.
As reported by Il Sole 24 Ore, the income meter can be based both on "accurate data", such as those obtainable from tax returns or bills, and on values obtainable from the tax register. If the latter are not available, the tax authorities will check the average expenses calculated by Istat and examined by geographic area.
The items of the new instrument have been updated through a decree of the Ministry of the Economy which will be published today in the Official Gazette. Here are the most significant ones:
INVESTMENTS
Real estate, registered movable assets (cars, caravans, motorcycles, minicars, boats and boats, aircraft), insurance policies, voluntary social security contributions, shares, bonds, loans, capitalisations, shareholdings, investment funds, derivatives, certificates of deposit , repurchase agreements, postal savings bonds, restricted deposit accounts, other credit instruments, other financial products, foreign currencies, gold, numismatics, philately, works of art or antiques.
HEALTH '
Medicines and medical visits.
FOOD AND CLOTHING
Food, drinks, clothes, shoes, furniture, appliances, domestic workers, furnishings, linens, detergents, cookware, laundry and repairs.
HOME
Mortgage, rent, real estate leasing, ordinary maintenance, water, condominium, real estate brokerage.
INSTRUCTION
Books, tuition fees, daycare fees, kindergarten, primary and secondary school, foreign language courses, university courses, tutoring, exam preparation courses, specialization schools, masters, study stays abroad, rents for university students.
ENERGY AREA
Electricity, gas and central heating.
TRANSPORTATION
Motor liability, fire and theft insurance, stamp duty, spare parts, oil and lubricants, fuel, maintenance and repair of cars, motorcycles, caravans, campers, minicars, boats, boats and planes, trams, buses, taxis, leasing or rental of means of transport.
COMMUNICATIONS
Telephones and telephone traffic costs.
FREE TIME
Toys, radio, TV, hi-fi, computers, non-scholastic books, newspapers, magazines, records, stationery, radio subscriptions, television, internet, lotto, lotteries, plants, flowers.
