In coastal areas, tax inspectors joined the beachgoers, and according to the liberal newspaper, they found that 60% of the businesses they inspected were operating illegally.
Over the past two weeks, due in part to the increased tourist traffic, officials have primarily visited businesses offering water sports and boat tours, souvenir shops, and restaurants in Paphos, Ayia Napa, Protaras, and Larnaca.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
“Karaouli”
Specifically, they waited outside businesses and, when customers exited, asked them for receipts or invoices.
Those in violation did not issue receipts or invoices, and many did not accept credit cards as a form of payment. In other cases, the amount shown on the receipt differed from the actual value of the goods or services.
Warning
Tax Department officials issued the first warning letters and returned to verify whether the businesses had complied, with several of them now in compliance. If a business owner continues to fail to comply, a second letter is issued; if the problem persists, the business is given an additional five days to comply.
If this period expires, the business is sealed off; once it complies, it is then permitted to reopen.
Major Debtors
The Department intends to implement the measure of sealing businesses for tax debts exceeding €20,000. In this context, a list has already been compiled of 500 businesses with tax debts exceeding €1 million.
See the report by Kleio Vourkou
