One more new digital platform is made available to taxpayers from today.

It’s about the platform “Citizen complaints”which is available on the digital portal myAADE (myaade.gov.gr) under the Applications/Popular Applications/Citizen Complaints route and now enables interested parties to automatically submit their complaints and information, named or anonymous, by selecting one or more of the following thematic categories:

1. Corruption – integrity violations

2. Tax violations

3. Customs violations

Complaints and information submitted through the platform are automatically channeled, depending on their subject matter, to the competent audit services for further investigation, as well as to the Directorate of Internal Affairs, when the cases concern matters of its competence.

The platform is an important tool in the effort to deal with tax evasion, tax avoidance, smuggling and corruption phenomena, facilitating the active participation of citizens.

In addition, the expected administrative benefits from the new platform are summarized as follows:

* Resources are saved by automating the process of thematic classification of information.

* Transparency is enhanced during the management of information, through its systematic recording and monitoring.

* The information to the AADE is optimized, on the types and trends of delinquent behaviors.

* The information is used in conjunction with the risk analysis criteria to carry out targeted operational actions.

The platform was presented in the morning, at the General Directorate of E-Governance of AADE by the governor of AADE, Giorgos Pitsilis, in the presence of the Minister of National Economy and Finance, Kostis Hatzidakis, the Deputy Minister, Haris Theocharis, and the Secretary General of Tax Policy and Public Property, Maria Fleas.

The Minister of National Economy and Finance, Kostis Hatzidakis, said:

Today AADE takes two steps forward. A digital modernization step and a step to deal with illegality, tax evasion. In relation to the digital modernization, it is important that this electronic platform, the digital platform for complaints in relation to tax evasion, is now moving forward. And it is not the only digital modernization initiative of AADE. There are many others. Just last week, the relevant platform for digitally downloading the tax awareness certificate was presented.

Tax evasion is also a big battle both for AADE and of course for the government. The fight against tax evasion is one of the most basic initiatives, not only of the ministry but also of the government in this four-year period. We even have a relevant bill tomorrow in the Council of Ministers. With many and different initiatives, because we want to tackle the issue holistically. One of the initiatives is related to what we are presenting today. And it is the citizen’s reward when he formally reports cases of tax evasion. It is the so-called “e-appodixi”. But of course there are other initiatives. The generalization of mydata, the obligation for everyone. Of course, in the context of the fight against tax evasion, the government is also discussing a new system of taxation of freelancers, a fair one, so that in the end there will be no – as is the case today – employers who pay less taxes than their employees. Especially when the employee is paid the minimum wage. It is a matter of social justice, which concerns the whole of society of course, but also all those many self-employed professionals who pay their taxes normally”.

For his part, the Deputy Minister of National Economy and Finance, Haris Theocharis, said:

“I believe that with the “Citizen Complaints” platform, AADE is taking a particularly important and necessary step. In all advanced nations public audit authorities rely on and make use of information provided by citizens. This information – or even complaints – about incorrect and vicious practices, are valuable, because they indicate to the competent agencies exactly where they should intervene. In order to neutralize cases of tax evasion, smuggling, corruption or other related illegalities. The “Citizen Complaints” platform, by its nature and design, encourages the healthy and honest cooperation of the citizen with the state bodies, with the direct aim of consolidating legality and justice, above all in the field of the most common tax violations”.

The head of the Independent Public Revenue Authority, Giorgos Pitsilis, said: “With our new digital platform, “Citizen Complaints”, we further expand the cooperation of citizens with the Tax and Customs Administration to achieve optimal results in the fight against tax evasion and smuggling and the strengthening of transparency in the operation of AADE. This initiative is another step in the direction of facilitating the daily life of citizens, strengthening healthy competition in the market and serving the public interest and society as a whole”.