Greece Has Tax Evasion of 45B Euros Each Year; Tax Chief: Ec. Problems Solved If Taxes Are Paid

International Monetary Fund Chief Christine Lagarde was right to urge Greeks to pay their taxes -- since that could help solve Greece's current difficulties -- the country's top tax investigator stated today (June 8, 2012), according to the Greek Reporter website.

Lagarde's statements raised great dispute among the already dissatisfied Greeks, who are tired of listening to Europe and the IMF saying they must try harder and harder and pay even more taxes.

"I agree wholeheartedly with Ms. Lagarde," the head of the Greek tax authority SDOE, Nikos Lekkas, said.

"Tax evasion in Greece amounts to 12 to 15 percent of the gross domestic product. That's 40-45 billion euros each year. If we could raise even just half of that, Greece's problems would be solved," Lekkas said.