Tax authorities planning carrot-and-stick strategy

The Ministry of Finance and the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE) plan greater discounts and the unlocking of bank accounts for those taxpayers who pay their taxes or their past debts on time or earlier.

The changes will affect income declarations filed next year.

But more inspections are coming for those suspected of hiding incomes, starting this autumn, with the aid of online databases.

The taxpayers, persons or corporations who choose to pay their assessed tax in one go, instead of up to eight installments, will get a higher discount than the current 3%. Taxpayers who are in arrears but have agreed to a payment schedule and stick with it, or even pay earlier, will also benefit from discounts.

Currently, a taxpayer in debt to the state can see earnings garnished. In some cases, when they want to sell a house, they need to ask for a...