(ANSA) - Rome, September 30 - The government is weighing a
bonus for people who use credit cards and help the fight against
tax evasion, a 'superbonus' to be paid out in one whack at the
start of the year and this dubbed a 'Befana Bonus' after the
witch that brings children presents on the Epiphany on January
6, sources said Monday.
The new bonus would be 19% of up to 2,500 of euros spent,
meaning that 475 euros would be repaid to people who have spent,
in the previous year, up to 2,500 using credit and debit cards.
The befana bonus would come on top of a monthly cashback
mechanism for all payments registered with credit and debit
cards, the sources said.
The moves will target sectors that are most at risk of tax
dodging, which costs the Italian economy billions of euros a
year.
The befana bonus would be inserted into plans to reform the
VAT system, the sources said.
The government is aiming to rejig some VAT brackets.
Premier Giuseppe Conte said he is pressing for alternative
methods to cash payments with the aim of reducing VAT on utility
bills and products like bread, milk and fruit.
photo: Economy Minister Roberto Gualtieri
'Befana bonus' eyed to boost credit card use
To be combined with new VAT plan