Italian Prime Minister Giorza Meloni has expressed concern about the expansion of cash payments, which the Italian central bank is promoting, saying it could stimulate the underground economy and encourage tax evasion.



Fabrizio Balasone, director of economic analysis at the Central Bank of Italy, said this at a public hearing on the 2023 budget jointly hosted by the Senate and House of Representatives budget committees on the 5th (local time), ANSA news agency reported.



The Italian government, led by Prime Minister Meloni, has been controversial for including a rule in the 2023 budget that allows self-employed people to refuse card payments and require cash payments of up to 60 euros (about 82,710 won).



Currently, in Italy, when paying less than 30 euros (about 41,200 won) at a restaurant or shop, the owner can refuse the card.



The Italian government also implemented a tax 'amnesty' of up to 1,000 euros (about 1,370,000 won) for tax arrears before 2015, and raised the cash transaction limit from 1,000 euros (1,400,000 won) to 5,000 euros (about 1,370,000 won). 6.9 million won).



Prime Minister Melonie has introduced a series of policies that go against the trend of declining cash use around the world, saying that card payments only result in fattening US credit card companies.