In absolute terms, the most populous regions record the highest data on tax evasion. But if we think in percentage terms, it is above all in the South that the loss of revenue to the state coffers is concentrated. This is what emerges from an analysis by the CGIA, the Italian General Confederation of Crafts. According to data released at the beginning of the year by the Ministry of Economy and Finance, tax evasion in Italy stands at 83.6 billion euros. A figure that refers to 2021, the latest year for which data is available. The CGIA research office has examined this data in depth, trying to understand which are the territories most loyal to the tax authorities and which are those which record the highest levels of tax evasion.
Escapism in the North and the South
The analysis showed that in absolute terms it is the most populous regions, i.e. those where the most economic activities are concentrated, that record the highest levels of lost revenue: 13.6 billion euros in Lombardy, 9.1 billion in Lazio, 7.8 billion in Campania and 6.5 billion in Veneto. However, if you look at the ratio between the amount evaded for every 100 euros of revenue collected, it is the regions of Southern Italy that end up at the top of the ranking. The black jersey goes to Calabria, with 18.4% tax evasion, followed by Campania (17.2%), Puglia (16.8%) and Sicily (16.5%). At a national level, the average amount evaded for every 100 euros of revenue collected is 11.2%. In the Southern regions, the percentage rises to 16.5%. The most virtuous territories are instead the autonomous province of Trento, with tax evasion estimated at 8.6%, Lombardy, with 8%, and the autonomous province of Bolzano, with 7.7%.
The distribution of the 43.3 million taxpayers
Overall, the CGIA analysis reveals, Italy has 43.3 million taxpayers. Of these, 42 million are natural persons and 1.3 million are legal persons. Of the 107 provinces monitored by the Mestre research office, Rome has the highest number of Irpef taxpayers: 2.9 million people. Following are Milan (2.4 million), Turin and Naples (both with 1.6 million taxpayers). If we look instead at joint-stock companies, Lombardy records the highest figure: 259,805. Followed by Lazio with 183,800, Campania with 129,300 and Veneto with almost 106,800
The bitter conclusion of the CGIA
Based on the latest data released by the Ministry of Economy and Finance, evasion in 2021 amounted to 83.6 billion euros, of which 73.2 billion in lost tax revenue and 10.4 billion in lost contribution revenue. The figure fell by 3.1% compared to 2020, but still remains very high compared to the European average. Yet, according to the CGIA, the Italian tax authorities have 190 databases digitally connected to each other, which contain an enormous amount of tax information. How is it possible, then, that we can’t track down those who don’t pay taxes? The bitter conclusion reached by the CGIA’s analysis is the following: «If every year the tax evaders subtract almost 84 billion euros from the tax authorities and our Financial Administration manages to recover only about twenty of them, it means that we probably know everything or almost on those who are known to the tax authorities, while we are groping in the dark regarding those who are not, with the result that evasion remains very high, penalizing beyond measure those who pay taxes down to the last cent”.
Cover photo: Dreamstime/Maurizio Ghidoli
