Independent Authority for Public Revenue

The 800,000 taxpayers who have not yet submitted their declarations for 2017 incomes on the website of the Independent Authority for Public Revenue have just six days to do so.

In a toxic environment of overtaxation, increasing numbers of taxpayers and enterprises are disputing taxes and fines imposed on them by the authorities.

In several cases some tax officers are known to have stretched the legislation beyond its limits and imposed high fines, while for similar cases other tax officers have issued very small fines.

The Greek tax mechanism has planned random checks with the aim of identifying taxpayers with revenues from short-term property rentals through online platforms. Due its current inability to cross-check the data, the tax officers will go undercover posing as guest-clients in a bid to establish whether revenues are declared.

The first batch of data concerning Greek taxpayers with deposits and financial assets abroad is in the hands of the Independent Authority for Public Revenue. The details were sent by fellow European Union states in the context of an automatic exchange of information.

Freelance professionals will soon be able to settle debts of up to a maximum amount of 250,000 euros to the state through the extrajudicial mechanism and the favorable clauses of the relevant law.

Forty days before the deadline for the submission of tax declarations concerning the 2017 incomes, only 1 percent of taxpayers have done so to date.

Greeks are known for leaving everything to the last minute, but this year it seems everyone is convinced the June 30 deadline will be extended.

The tax administration is increasing its efforts to crack down on debtors, with the aim of reducing overdue debts and boosting state revenues. In this context it is planning to expand checks on those who owe money to the state and to create online systems for the collection of expired arrears.

The Independent Authority for Public Revenue has activated the online application allowing taxpayers to pay their dues to the state using bank cards (credit or debit) via the Taxisnet platform.

The inspection mechanism of the Independent Authority for Public Revenue is looking out for properties that have not been declared to the tax authorities, and particularly assets belonging to state debtors.

Customs authorities may have had a remarkably fruitful year in 2017 as regards inspections on tobacco products - confiscating 154 million contraband cigarettes and imposing taxes and fines of 581 million euros - but they also excelled in original catches, which included the confiscation of crocodiles, eels, sturgeon eggs, underwear and cutlery.