Greece’s new tax and social rules
Greece's new tax and social rules are very difficult to understand !!! Greece has finished catching up in fiscal and social matters and under the impetus of its Prime Minister, Mr. Kyriakos Mitsotakis, it is now possible to say that the country exceeds all expectations in terms of control.
It is clear that in the islands in the past the generalisation of cash did not generate any payment of VAT, corporate taxes, or social security contributions. This allowed you to work for 4 short months for the summer (the regulation was 110 days) and to do nothing the rest of the year. And to live comfortably enough… And to call Europe in case of economic problem.
Everything has been reversed in recent years with the implementation of solutions that would have triggered the revolution in many countries:
The AFIMI tax number is systematically requested for everything, even when you ask for simple information! It is a completely liberticidal police of everything you do economically. You can no longer buy anything without the government knowing it;
Since 2024 and with reinforcement at the beginning of 2026, another device has been created: the State Payment Terminal! A white terminal! The company must imperatively light it up when it is open and there are online controls and…many fines! So no more exotic "tax-free" payment terminals to Bulgaria. When you make a transaction, VAT is deducted before the money arrives in your bank account and the state recovers all possible debts in passing! In the first quarter of 2026, 2500 Hellenic companies were sanctioned, sometimes simply for not turning on the terminal!!!
This gives funny scenes where you arrive at an establishment where everything is turned off, or even the door closed as if to hide… Always trying to find a parade…;-))
Provisions regarding social security contributions have also been made no longer allowing employees to access the hospital and care if their employers do not fulfil their social obligations! And in this case the ePaiement Terminal counts the number of working days to calculate the contributions!
Finally, the last device is tasty since the Greek state has made available on mobile phone myApodixi so that every customer who is not satisfied with the follow-up of tax or social rules can very easily make a report… Ambiance!!
The Greek state has therefore optimised all its digital resources to control all the country's economic activity.
Obviously, cash flows less freely. Contractors have not yet integrated any tariff advantage to encourage cash payment. Generously they only offer you the VAT discount that he does not pay and preserves the 45% savings they make in this case on tax and social charges… So no more cash payment..
The economic model of companies is to preserve the income realised 4-5 years ago when there were almost no taxes!! Donation every year in the taverns are increases of 15 to 20% each year for exactly the same services…. So we often hear after the season that this year the clientele was not of good quality because not very rich… Without ever questioning yourself, the error could be expensive in the long run…
Working longer and better does not yet seem an option, not changing either