Hacienda has been swatting up on Eliot Ness and the Untouchables, it seems, judging by their latest proposals before the Central Government.

The nation’s tax inspectors want to be able to operate undercover and have funds for paying informers – in short, they want to be on a par with the nation’s police forces.

For this to happen the future Statutes of the Agencia Tributaria will have to include a carte blanche for operating incognito with access to a reserve of funds for paying informants and buying compromising fiscal information.

Where is this extra money to come from? They suggest a reform to their financing, which would permit them to keep a percentage of the money they track down.

But wait – there’s more! They also want strong incentives (bonuses) for achieving targets and productivity.

The Organización Profesional de Inspectores de Hacienda, which has 1,500 members, presented these proposals in Madrid, which would go some way, they claim, to offsetting the loss of “social prestige” over the department’s alleged favoritism shown concerning the Caso Noos and the involvement of the Kings’ daughter, Princess, Cristina.

(News: Spain)