ATHENS, Greece, July 17 (UPI) -- Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras said Wednesday that sales tax on dining out would be cut sharply starting in August.
The tax on food service is to be cut on Aug. 1 from 23 percent to 13 percent, Samaras said in a televised announcement.
Ekathimerni reported that the financial strategy includes an expectation that revenues would rise and tax evasion would decline.
"We told the troika [the European Central Bank, the European Commission and the International Monetary Fund] that if we go from 23 percent to 13 percent, state revenue will rise and tax evasion will be curbed," Samaras said.
"They still don't believe this, but they agreed to the implementation of the reduction," he said.
Samaras also said that the Greek government making moving forward with financial improvements.
"Contrary to what certain people claim we have made real progress," he said
