EU: Greeks Still Neglect to Ask for Receipts

According to Eurobarometer, 30% of Greeks have admitted that last year they made purchases or paid for services without acquiring any receipts. Furthermore, as the figures show the percentage is the highest in the EU-28. However, what is really striking is the fact that the rate has increased since 2007 (when it was 17%).

In detail, when asked the question “have you paid for goods or services with strong suspicions that the price included undeclared work (without receipt and VAT), in the last 12 months?” Europeans responded as such:

Greece 30%
Netherlands 29%
Latvia 28%
Denmark 23%
UK 8%
Germany 7%
Poland 5%

To the question “Do you know people who work without declaring their income or part of their income to the tax service?” Positive responses were:

Denmark 59%
Netherlands 55%
Greece 54%

The lowest rates were recorded in Ireland (25%), Malta, Romania (20%) and Great Britain (15%).

Furthermore, 44% of people in Greece admit that they resort to undeclared work due to lack of control by Greek authorities. The corresponding figure for the EU is 21%.

However, only 3% of Greeks admitted that they have received undeclared wages in return for work during the past 12 months. Out of these people, 16% said that in the last year they earned more than 1,000 euros through “black labor.”

According to Eurobarometer, the most widely used services that are paid for without a receipt in Greece and the EU are house repairs and renovations amounting to 25% (29% in the EU), health services 16% (8% in the EU), car repairs 13% (22% in the EU) and house cleaning 12% (15% in the EU).

Finally, 23% of Greeks (25% in the EU) admit that during last year they spent from 50 to 200 euros in goods and services without receiving any proof, while 19% say they spent more than 500 euros without a receipt.