From October, electronic invoicing becomes mandatory for thousands of businesses in Greece, in an effort by the government and the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (IAPR) to enhance transparency and reduce tax evasion. The new measure, already successfully implemented in many EU countries, requires mandatory issuance and transmission of electronic invoices through certified providers.
Electronic invoicing will be implemented gradually, starting with businesses with annual turnover exceeding €200,000, and will subsequently expand to smaller enterprises. The relevant legislative regulation is expected to be submitted to Parliament within the coming weeks.
How the electronic invoicing system works – 36,000 businesses already use it in the country
With the new system, every electronically issued invoice will be automatically sent to both the issuer and customer as well as to the IAPR’s myDATA platform in real time. This immediate connection provides tax authorities with a complete picture of transaction volume and value, as well as the corresponding VAT.
According to the economic staff, mandatory electronic invoicing represents one of the strongest tools against fictitious and fake invoices, as it eliminates human intervention and minimizes fraud margins. The new regime will also facilitate the issuance of pre-filled VAT returns, reducing errors and bureaucratic burdens for businesses.
It should be noted that 36,000 businesses in the country already use electronic invoicing, taking advantage of the tax and technological incentives that have been established, such as faster tax refunds and accelerated depreciation for investments in digital infrastructure.
Greece received approval from the European Union for implementing the new system, which is expected to enhance the effectiveness of tax administration and drastically reduce circular or chain fraud phenomena.
The transition to electronic invoicing is not simply a tax change – it represents a crucial step toward digital transformation of Greek businesses and a significant opportunity for upgrading economic processes at the national level.
