As Greeks continue to struggle to find affordable and suitable housing, Greek Independent Revenue Authority (AADE) Director-General George Pichilis has announced that the government will use “digital” to support efforts to address the country’s housing crisis. announced that it had introduced a property file.
AADE hopes that this file will help determine the actual number and condition of vacant properties in Greece and help curb undeclared rental income.
vacant property
According to the latest data from the Greek Statistical Institute (ELSTAT) based on the 2021 census, there are 793,884 vacant properties in Greece. Of these, 255,300 are in Attica, 229,627 in northern Greece, 182,918 in central Greece, and 126,035 in the Aegean Islands and Crete.
However, Pichilis points out that “we don’t know exactly how many properties are actually vacant.”
The government also lacks information about the condition of these residential properties and whether they are actually occupied and the owners are simply avoiding declaring all or part of their rental income.
digital property file
Pichilis explained at Tuesday’s meeting that this situation is expected to change by 2025, when the government completes the property ownership and management register developed in collaboration with the Land Registry.
The new digital property file will record vacant properties and provide a clearer picture of the number of vacant properties, ideally helping to alleviate the housing crisis.
Pichilis said the file contains information about the taxpayer’s properties, including key property types, surface area, location, number of floors, electrical status, unfinished or vacant status, and percent ownership. It contains detailed information.
This file also tracks whether the property is rented for free or given away, monthly and annual rent amounts, and tenant details.
The government plans to integrate data from personal and corporate property declarations (called E9 forms in Greece) with rental income declarations (E2 forms) and cross-reference the information. This will help assess the country’s vacant housing stock and detect potential cases of tax evasion where owners may be collecting rental income without declaring it or only partially declaring it. Helpful.
To stop tax evasion, tenants will be able to see the properties they rent and the amount their owners are declaring on their tax returns.
If a tenant identifies discrepancies (such as paying higher rent than officially declared rent) or notices that the property has not been declared at all, report the property they are renting and the amount of rent paid Must be.
Digital property files are updated in real time to ensure accurate and up-to-date information.
