The Greek Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE) is proceeding with extensive data cross-checks using digital tools to target businesses that claim high VAT refunds through “accounting manipulations.” The updated operational plan increases the number of audits to 6,600 from the initial plan of 4,200.
Case selection will be based on risk analysis criteria, with priority given to businesses and professionals with high VAT refunds relative to their turnover, cases with large discrepancies between declared data and requested amounts, taxpayers with suspicious behavior or past violations, as well as newly established and seasonal businesses requesting very high refund amounts relative to their tax profile.
Meanwhile, the audit mechanism is targeting taxpayers who submitted zero declarations in 2024 despite available data indicating actual economic activity. Similar audits are being planned for the 2023 tax year, using information recorded on the digital myDATA platform. Additionally, 8,318 partial audits will be conducted with data cross-checks from POS systems, electronic books, intra-community transactions, and other sources.
Regarding VAT declarations, the next step after pre-filling them based on myDATA data is the automatic submission of declarations if no intervention occurs from the liable party. The intensification and upgrading of audits, combined with the strengthening and expansion of digital transactions, has contributed to a dramatic reduction in the VAT gap – from 29% in 2017 to 11.4% in 2023, marking the largest decrease among European Union member states.
In absolute numbers, losses amounted to €4.872 billion in 2019, €3.533 billion in 2020, €2.969 billion in 2021, €2.644 billion in 2022, €2.532 billion in 2023, and €2.116 billion in 2024. Although Greece continues to be among states with a double-digit VAT gap, it records the lowest VAT revenue losses connected to “missing trader” type fraud.
