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"Suspicions are fuelled by envy"

So far this year over 2,000 Belgians snitched on their neighbours and informed the Belgian taxman that they were probably not paying all the tax that was due. In only five years the number of calls to the taxman to inform on a neighbour has ballooned from 510 to 2,610.

The Secretary of State charged with combating tax fraud, Elke Sleurs, has opened her heart to the daily Het Nieuwsblad: "In many cases suspicions are fuelled by the sudden appearance of an expensive set of wheels or the fact that the neighbours are always off on holiday. Probably it's more often than not envy, but it is clear that Flemings are worried about tax fraud. There is an enormous feeling of injustice about."

Ms Sleurs is keen to quash a widespread impression that all independent professionals are defrauding the taxman: "I'm calling for respect from both sides."

The Secretary of State is keen to encourage honesty: "Should we really think that every single small independent professional in Flanders is a fraudster. Should we really come down hard on every butcher or baker who works his guts out every day but is unaware of the minutiae of the law?"
 

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