The announcements included measures beyond those announced by the Prime Minister at the TIF
The presentation of the new tax bill by the competent minister took place at the Ministry of Finance Kostis Hatzidakistogether with the deputy ministers, Christos Dimas and Thanos Petralia.
Mr. Hatzidakis spoke about 4 major changes that “modernize tax legislation and affect in one way or another all or large categories of taxpayers”.
The changes concern:
-On the tip. It is imported tax-free for tips up to 300 euros per month
-On the abolition of the Trade Fee for all natural persons, whether they have a “block” or not.
-In the procedure and specific times for submitting tax returnsn, on a permanent basis without extensions. There will be dates that apply permanently and regardless of governments. Specifically, a fixed submission date is set from March 15 to July 15. At the same time, a graduated deduction of 2% to 4% for quick and one-time payment of income tax is initiated.
-Modern administrative model for AADE
In detail what Mr. Hatzidakis stated in his opening statement:
Today we will present to you four important changes that modernize tax legislation and affect in one way or another all or at least large categories of taxpayers. These changes will be included in a more comprehensive tax bill. Bill of the Ministry of National Economy and Finance, which will include the initiatives that we have already announced and the Prime Minister announced at the International Exhibition of Thessaloniki.
In other words, the twelve wage increases and the twelve tax cuts we’ve told you about.
It will also include this bill the incentives for mergers and innovation, which have also been introduced, but will be included in the bill. And those four major changes that we’re going to talk to you about right away, we’re coming in and fixing the issues that have come up in terms of tipping.
As you know, there was several decades of legislation. In fact, on the basis of which the tip was considered income and taxable until now. The government immediately listening to the opinions expressed by all stakeholders, comes and legislates with a regulation that also has other individual parameters, as Mr. Dimas then presents, but as its main core it has that a tax-free on tips up to 300 euros per month is introduced for hundreds of thousands of workers.
The second change is the abolition of the pretension fee for all natural persons without exception, i.e. also for self-employed people with a pad. Again, it will be presented in detail later. After this arrangement that all natural persons will not pay a pretense fee from the 25th onwards.
The third change is a very important change that has to do with the way of submitting tax returns from now on, deadlines and penalties. And this change is based on a proposal of the Economic Chamber of Greece, which presumably also expresses the accountants. Its details will be presented later. What I want to tell you is that first, a fixed date is determined from now on that will not change every year, there will be dates that will be valid(…).
And the fourth, the fourth change has to do with a modern administrative model for the AADE. AADE has so far worked positively. It is a model that was introduced several years ago. In practice it was confirmed that it was a step forward. And we come to reinforce the positives and support the effort where it is needed, with the aim of a faster, more digital and more efficient implementation of the work of AADE. I will tell you next which are the main changes that are being introduced, but I will stop here and give the floor for the first three changes to Christos Dimas, responsible for tax policy, to present them.
