Utility bills to count toward tax discount

The payment of utility bills using credit or debit cards will also count toward the tax discount for electronic transactions, according to sources, as the state appears unable to distinguish such payments from spending on goods and other services.

Although the Finance Ministry originally wanted to exclude the payment of water, electricity and telephone bills from the amount that taxpayers must spend by electronic means to qualify for a tax discount of 1,900-2,100 euros from their annual income, it now appears that almost all expenditure using cards will count.

In a statement issued last week, the ministry cited "rent payments and utility bills, as well as those for landline, cell phone and pay-TV services" as examples of exemptions from the measure. However, the problems identified by various state agencies have forced the ministry to accept almost all transactions that...