An external view of the central headquarters of the Revenue Agency-Collection, Rome, 28 April 2022. ANSA/ PRESS OFFICE ++HO – NO SALES EDITORIAL USE ONLY++
From today, finally, we stop working for the State and start doing it for ourselves: we “celebrate” the day of tax liberation. More than a date to remember, more than a milestone however symbolic, it is a unit of measurement of the tax burden of a country that burdens its citizens more than others in Europe. It’s a question of numbers, of figures that affect our pockets. The average burden of taxes in the 27-country EU area is estimated at approximately 40.3% of gross domestic product. In Italy, 42.5 percent of the GDP goes to taxes, duties and taxes. In practice, more than two points (2.2 to be precise), money that makes the difference. Here I am.
There is some good news, however. This year, as reported by the CGIA of Mestre, the deadline expires one day earlier than last year. Calendar in hand, it’s two days since this year was a leap year. In statistical or economic terms, it means that the Treasury press has loosened its grip a little. The tax burden is destined to fall by 0.4% this year. Better than nothing, but not enough. Be that as it may, from today onwards everything we earn will be “ours”. But there is very little to celebrate. We had to work for 154 days straight, just over five months in total, including weekends, to pay off taxes, contributions, duties and various and possible duties. Thanks to which the State will collect this year, according to CGIA estimates, an impressive figure of 909.7 billion euros. Money which, let’s be clear, is useful for guaranteeing at least the basics of the welfare state, including school, healthcare and transport. But which, however, continue to represent an outlay that is far too expensive for the nation. Only France, Belgium, Denmark and Austria demand more from their citizens. They explain from Mestre that these countries “If in Paris the tax pressure was 45.8 percent of GDP, in Brussels it stood at 45.3 percent, in Copenhagen at 44.5 percent and in Vienna at 42.9 percent hundred. Here, however, it reached the threshold of 42.5 percent. Among the 27 EU members, Italy placed fifth.” We do better (or worse, perhaps it would be more appropriate to say) than Germany which ranks “in tenth place with a tax pressure of 40.6 percent and Spain in thirteenth with 37.8 percent”. Tax liberation, yes. Seriously.
