Total tax receipts increase by 1.8% in first quarter

(ANSA) - Rome, May 5 - Tax receipts rose by 1.8% in the first quarter of 2014 compared with the same time last year, due to a crackdown on fiscal evasion, Italy's economy ministry said Monday.
    Receipts totalled 88.9 billion euros in the first three months of the year, the ministry said.
    Tax income from inspections and investigations of potential tax dodgers was up by as much as 9.1% and was worth some 141 million euros, the MEF said.
    Income from the value-added tax, which the government raised to 22% from 21% last year, also rose by 4.4% in Q1, or 894 million euros, compared to the first quarter of 2013, the ministry said.