At some point down the road, the US and Italy may want to compare notes about the level of interest in their respective tax amnesty programs. The IRS has made it clear that even if you decide to atone for your tax sins, your future is still a function of what side of the bed the respective tax investigator wakes up on. Then there is the Silvio Berlusconi plan. The rules are pretty simple- divulge what you’re hiding abroad, pay a fine of 5% of that amount, and your record is wiped clean. End of story. As you might guess, not everybody is fully on board with the 5% stay out of jail (almost) free plan.
“Shameful,” centrist Senator Gianpiero D’Alia told the Senate, “With this, Mafiosi and terrorists can repatriate illegally gained capital without any control by the state.”
“This is nothing less than a gift to the white-collar class and an insult to the principles of ethics and fairness,” said Giuliano Barbolini, a parliamentarian of the opposition Democratic Party.
True as that may or may not be, with Italians hiding an estimated €600 billion in the shrinking list of tax havens, the government stands to gain a decent chunk of change with the introduction of its offshore tax rate program. It appears the country still hasn’t decided whether or not to embrace the work of another famous Italian politician: Machiavelli.
Berlusconi government under fire over fraud amnesty plan [Retuers]
Giuliano Barbolini is a friend of mine.
This has another Gasparino book deal written all over it.
greg get your pimpled ass over to going concern.
Greg, I am going to rip out the table of contents and index pages of every book you own so you have to read to find information more often, thus improving your writing.
-Jeff Macke
Greg,
I want you to think back to the time you tucked your junk back between your legs and looked at yourself in the mirror. Weird wasn’t it?
-not JM but a fan
Good one! JM @4
Greg,
I’m going to sew your asshole tight and keep feeding you, and feeding you.
Wu Tang Clan
@ 7: only a dipshit would sign a post as “wu tang clan”.
Greg -
Pull the pepperoni out of your ass and go home.
Cocaine producers and wholesalers of the world, hear me out. I charge 200 bps, looking to raise $10BB. 500 bps to Berlusconi’s gang. Money placed in Unicredit saving accounts within 10 biz days. Money will be fucking clean and certified by the Euro Zone.
Ciao Baby,
Italiaunderer
@5,
How do you know? Your comment implies certain knowledge.
@5,@11
There is nothing I love more than making the “mangina.” Wee, maybe BBQ.
i’d rather there be more coke than mexicans in this country!
viva la coca!
-daddy
@7 but then who would catch for you?