> When Greece was trying to sort out its default, it outsourced tax collection to its utility companies as part of the bailout.
Not exactly.
The Greek government wanted to collect a new extra property tax, and needed to collect it as fast as possible (instead of waiting for about a year for the normal tax collection).
So, the payment of the tax was set to be paid temporarily through the electricity bill. The electricity bill is used anyway to collect 1) council tax and 2) compulsory TV licence, and is still used to pay these two.
Now, that extra property tax is paid in the traditional way through the tax office.
Not exactly.
The Greek government wanted to collect a new extra property tax, and needed to collect it as fast as possible (instead of waiting for about a year for the normal tax collection).
So, the payment of the tax was set to be paid temporarily through the electricity bill. The electricity bill is used anyway to collect 1) council tax and 2) compulsory TV licence, and is still used to pay these two.
Now, that extra property tax is paid in the traditional way through the tax office.