The Greek tax authority’s auction program is heating up, with dozens of properties across the country going under the hammer due to accumulated tax debts. From next month until June 3, 2026, the electronic auction platform will be activated for more than 40 properties, including apartments, plots, agricultural land, commercial spaces, industrial buildings, parking spots, and warehouses. Starting prices range from €7,000 to €3.5 million for an agricultural plot with industrial facility in Boeotia.
Tax debt auctions: Warehouses, apartments and plots priced from €7,000 to €3.5 million
According to the latest data from Greece’s tax authority (AADE), overdue public debts exceed €112.5 billion, while more than 2.3 million taxpayers face asset freezes and seizures of bank accounts and property. AADE is accelerating collection of overdue debts, setting targets above €6 billion by year-end.
The list of scheduled property auctions includes:
- Second-floor apartment of 114 sq.m. in Agia Paraskevi with starting bid €247,000.
- Fifth-floor apartment of 113.65 sq.m. in Agia Paraskevi with 11 sq.m. parking space and 60.74 sq.m. roof terrace, starting bid €340,000.
- Plot of 346.85 sq.m. with 80.63 sq.m. house in Agia Paraskevi, starting bid €260,000.
- First-floor apartment of 136.90 sq.m. in Kifisia, starting bid €396,000.
- Agricultural plot of 5.8 acres with 595 sq.m. industrial building in Platykampos, Larissa. Starting bid €220,000.
- Fifth-floor apartment of 80.50 sq.m. in Peristeri. Starting bid €126,000.
- Building plot of 780.89 sq.m. with construction and parking spaces in Nea Ionia. Starting bid €2.5 million.
- Agricultural plot with industrial facility in Boeotia covering 25,460 sq.m. Starting bid €3.5 million.
How and when property auctions take place
Property auctions are the last resort used by AADE to collect overdue tax obligations, with third-party seizures being the most common automated method. For large debts, the tax authority proceeds with asset freezes, seizures and property auctions, from which only the primary residence is exempt under certain conditions.
According to AADE, property seizure occurs before auction, but before any enforcement action, the tax administration must serve individual notice of debt payment/default. No notification is required for cash seizures.
In exceptional cases where debt collection is at risk, the tax administration may bypass this procedure and freeze properties before notifying the debtor.
Regarding the consequences of property seizure, the following apply:
- From the day the seizure notice is served to the debtor, they lose the right to freely dispose of the property and its components, even if not described in the seizure report or if the debtor was present during seizure.
- The seizure report does not mean immediate auction.
- If the debtor has not enrolled debts in a settlement program, the head of the competent collection service must, after 40 days and no later than 4 months from seizure, set an auction date no later than 5 months from the program issue date.
- If the auction is not conducted on the scheduled date, a new program must be issued within one year from the non-execution date, setting a new date as above. These deadlines may be extended for serious reasons stated in a reasoned report.
- Issuing an auction program after legal deadlines does not invalidate it.
- Execution suspension is achieved by enrolling the debtor in a debt settlement program or obtaining a court injunction.
