Taxpayers in Portugal will all have to work until June 6 this year before they have paid their ‘tax load’ to the State. That’s eight days more than they had to work in 2011 (when tax dues were all paid up by May 29) and three days more than in 2012.
According to a European study by the Foundation for European Reform, Portugal is the seventh country in 28 economies within the EU to celebrate “Freedom from Taxes” day. Ahead of us have been Cyprus (March 21), Malta and Ireland (April 28) and UK, Bulgaria and Luxembourg (May 12) – but there are many others where workers will be working long into the year before they’ve paid their dues. Belgium leads the field, with ‘freedom day’ not coming until August 6 – and in Greece now, taxpayers have to work until July 14 before they’re through paying state dues.
