For years they hid from the Department of Taxation 513 big debtors, who owed tens of millions of euros in taxes. These individuals were assessed by the competent Department as high-risk taxpayers, as, despite their accumulated debts, they managed for years to deceive and play hide and seek with the tax authorities.
Last year, after coordinated planning, campaigns and raids by the competent authorities, the 513 big debtors, who had immediate debts taxation and VAT in the amount of €44.1 million, were caught in the grip of the Tax. In the last two years, the Tax Department identified a total of 1,059 large taxpayers, whom they succeeded in taxing, collecting for the state coffers approximately €99.5 million.
In detail, in 2025, according to information from “F”, the Office of Large Taxpayers placed a total of 513 taxpayers under close monitoring, in relation to their compliance with their obligations to the Tax Department. During the audits, the officers of the Department found that the specific taxpayers had debts on income tax, capital gains tax, extraordinary defense levy and VAT.
Accumulated debts
In detail, 396 debtors who owed direct taxes were imposed taxes amounting to €37.9 million, while another 117 taxpayers, who had VAT debts, were asked to pay €6.2 million. The average debt is estimated at €86 thousand.
At the same time, the tax authorities proceeded to impose additional taxes of €115 million on 20,338 natural and legal persons, after on-site audits, investigation of tax fraud cases, examination of capital statements and financial statements.
Over 1,200 checks
According to data obtained by “Φ”, in 2025 the Department’s officials carried out on-site VAT checks on 1,236 taxpayers, on whom taxes of €32.4 million were imposed. Also, a total of 73 cases of tax fraud were put under the microscope of the competent authorities, in which a tax of €4.1 million was assessed.
Additionally, the capital statements of 1,067 taxpayers were examined, with the competent authority imposing taxes of €3.1 million. At the same time, financial statements were examined in 18 thousand cases, in which the Tax Department imposed taxes amounting to €75.3 million.
At the same time, the tax authorities, in the context of voluntary tax compliance, carried out campaigns to inform and comply with taxpayers, as well as to impose penalties in cases of non-compliance.
They were fooling the authorities with 5% VAT
Last year, the Tax Department carried out on-site audits to verify the correct application of the reduced VAT rate for the purchase or construction of a residence and sent compliance letters to taxpayers. As “F” is informed, the Tax Department continued its on-site audits, in order to establish whether the legislation for a reduced VAT of 5% when buying or building a main house or apartment is correctly applied.
In total, approximately 1,715 on-site inspections were carried out, during which 93 non-entitled persons were identified, while the corresponding amount that has been demanded to be paid amounts to €11.5 million. Also, another 214 taxpayers proceeded to voluntary compliance with this legislation, voluntarily declaring the termination of use and paying VAT amounting to €9.3 million.
Taxpayers paid an additional 14% VAT, on top of the 5%, as they normally had to pay 19% from the start. The specific persons did not use the residence for permanent residence, but rented it through various electronic platforms, such as Airbnb and Booking, or used as a holiday home.
From 2022 to 2025, the Tax Department identified a total of 1,295 taxpayers who benefited from the 5% measure, while they were not beneficiaries, imposing additional taxes of €73.2 million on them. Finally, in the context of data analysis and risk management practices, when non-compliant behaviors are detected, approximately 12,430 compliance letters have been sent to individuals and legal entities.
Tax debts climbed to €4.64 billion
Total tax debts rose by €700 million last year, climbing to €4.64 billion, from €3.93 billion. The amount of debt immediately due, before the implementation of collection measures, in December 2025 amounted to €3.32 billion, including interest and charges, compared to €2.59 billion in the corresponding period of 2024.
Approximately 60% of the immediately required amount, on all tax debts, is up to four years old. Specifically, 29.5% concern current debts of less than one year and 29.9% tax debts between one and four years old.
Total taxes under recovery measures in 2025 amounted to €901.5 million, compared to €729.8 million in 2024. The net recoverable amount of taxes due, before the application of the bank account freeze measure, in December 2025 was €2.42 billion, compared to €1.63 billion in 2024.
The net amount of tax immediately due, without collection measures, on 31 December 2025, amounted to €2.42 billion.
