From January 2015, the government hopes to introduce a "common number" system under which each individual will be issued an electronic card that will be used for both taxation and social security purposes.

The card will contain information on such matters as the cardholder's income, payments at medical institutions, pensions, social welfare benefits, savings transfers and property transactions. The government says the system will enable the government to keep a better tab on individuals' incomes in its efforts to prevent tax evasion.

The system also is expected to result in a more equitable redistribution of income between the rich and the poor through taxation and social welfare measures.