3 December 2007

MADRID - Nearly half of Spanish business owners think tax fraud is acceptable, according to a 2006 survey by the Fiscal Studies Institute (IEF), a branch of the Economy Ministry. Although the figure is lower than 2005, 46 percent of respondents said it is okay to cheat on tax forms if one's personal situation is "critical."

However, 54 percent of businesses and 61 percent of citizens reject such practices, considering that taxes are related to "solidarity" and "principles."

[Copyright EL PAÍS, SL. 2007]

Subject: Spanish news