The complete payment timeline for citizen support measures over the next 18 months was presented by Deputy Finance Minister Thanos Petralias during yesterday’s parliamentary speech, as part of the discussion on the budget for 2026. As he emphasized, the total cost of fiscal interventions included in the budget’s explanatory report amounts to €2.9 billion for 2026 and an additional €2 billion for 2027. He commented that this represents the “largest intervention in personal income taxation in recent decades, accompanied by numerous positive measures supporting the real income of all citizens, as well as the necessary allocations, within the fiscal space, for improving state services, healthcare, defense and strengthening investments.”
The timeline of citizen income support measures month by month
In detail, the implementation timeline is as follows:
December 2025
- Following the €250 support given to low-pension recipients, people with disabilities and uninsured elderly, rent refunds and salary increases for Security Forces paid in November, December will see pension increases with 50% offsetting of increases against personal differences and reduced tax rates.
- Also, within December, support of approximately €1.2 billion will be paid to farmers and livestock breeders for smallpox.
January 2026
- From January 2026, net monthly earnings of private and public sector employees will increase, as smaller withholding on gross salary is applied based on the new tax scale. Families with children and young people up to 30 years old will particularly benefit.
- From 1/1/2026, VAT is reduced by 30% on islands in the North Aegean Region, Evros Prefecture (Samothrace) and Dodecanese Prefecture with populations up to 20,000 residents.
- Within January, Armed Forces personnel (approximately 75,000 beneficiaries) are expected to receive salary increases retroactively from October, while foreign service compensation and special duties allowances for Foreign Ministry staff are increased.
- Also, from January 2026, the subscription television fee is abolished, which burdens more than 1,000,000 accounts, both households and businesses.
March 2026
- With the ENFIA confirmation in March 2026, approximately 1,000,000 property owners in settlements up to 1,500 residents and especially in Evros, Western Macedonia and border areas in continental frontier settlements up to 1,700 residents, will find it reduced by 50%.
- In tax returns opening in March 2026, approximately 477,000 taxpayers will find lower burden due to reduced living standards for residences and cars. Additionally, dependent children with their own income will be exempted from minimum objective living expenses.
- Also, freelance professionals residing in all settlements outside Attica up to 1,500 residents and in border areas up to 1,700 residents will have 50% reduced minimum income. Additionally, new mothers with freelance professions are exempted from deemed income in the year of child birth and the following two years.
April 2026
- From April 1, 2026, the minimum wage will be further increased. The increase also brings increases to unemployment benefits, maternity allowances, seniority allowances, overtime pay, etc.
- From the same month, public sector salaries also increase, proportional to the minimum wage increase.
November 2026
In November 2026, the €250 support will again be paid to low-pension recipients, people with disabilities and uninsured elderly, as well as rent refunds.
December 2026
At the end of 2026, there will be pension increases based on GDP and inflation, without offsetting increases against personal differences.
January – March 2027
- From January 2027, employees and employers will have additional relief, as social security contributions will be reduced by an additional 0.5%.
- In tax returns opening in March 2027 for the 2026 tax year, freelance professionals and farmers will see significant income tax reduction, as they will be taxed with reduced rates based on the new tax reform.
- For property owners in 2027 returns for the 2026 tax year, there will be significant tax reduction for more than 160,000 owners, as the rate for rental income from €12,000 to €24,000 is reduced from 35% to 25%.
- With the ENFIA confirmation in March 2027, approximately 1,000,000 property owners in settlements up to 1,500 residents and border areas up to 1,700 residents will find it is now zero.
April 2027
Finally, from April 1, 2027, the minimum wage will be further increased, reaching €950, as the government has committed. The total increase from 2021 (minimum €650) will amount to 46%. Public employee salaries will increase proportionally.
Published in Apogevmatini
