Portugal threatens thousands of tax-dodgers in pre-Christmas blitz

AFP, December, 2003

LISBON (AFP) — Portugal's cash-strapped finance ministry has sent out thousands of letters threatening to seize the cars and homes of people who owe the state back taxes unless they pay up by the end of the year.

More than 250,000 such letters were sent out, junior Finance Minister Vasco Valdez told reporters Friday, which should start arriving in mailboxes across the country on Monday along with last-minute Christmas cards.

He said the letters demand payments totalling nearly one billion euros (dollars) in income and corporate taxes which have gone unpaid, as well as sales taxes which shops have collected but failed to hand over to the state.

"We are certainly going to shorten the length of time between the failure to pay taxes and the seizure of property,"...