Card payment refund scheme aims to wean tax-dodging Italians off cash

Thousands and thousands of Italians have signed up for a government scheme presenting a 10pc refund for card payments in suppliers in just two months in an attempt by Rome to slash tax evasion and improve vendors strike by coronavirus limits.

The roaring commence to the scheme, which involves downloading an application adopted by a prolonged registration course of action, will come in stark contrast to Italians’ lukewarm reaction to the more simple Immuni application introduced in June to trace Covid infections.

The so-identified as “cashback” strategy will formally kick off upcoming thirty day period but the pilot programme from Dec 8 to the finish of the finish, which makes it possible for savings of up to €150, has previously captivated a tenth of the adult inhabitants.

“Around 5m subscriptions is no smaller feat,” claimed Leonzio Rizzo, a professor of public finance at the University of Ferrara, advised Reuters.

Key Minister Giuseppe Conte’s government believes that weaning Italians off money can lessen rampant tax evasion, approximated by the Treasury at about €110bn a year.

Digital payments, contrary to notes and cash, are more difficult to disguise from the taxman.

On the other hand the programme has its critics, including the European Central Bank, which claimed last 7 days that governments must get a neutral strategy to suggests of payments and complained it had not been consulted.