The countdown to the interconnection of cash registers after POS and the transfer of tax data in real time to the AADE, is approaching and everything is converging on the estimate that within 2023 the system will operate throughout the economy, which will limit tax evasion and at the same time expand the tax base.

Based on the recent decision of the head of AADE, Giorgos Pitsilisthe technical requirements and upgrade deadlines for the approximately 300,000 Tax Cash Registers (FTM) and ADIME (Autonomous Fiscal Processing Units) in operation are determined.

As provided for those businesses with a turnover of up to 100,000 euros, the date of completion of the upgrade is set to 30 June 2023, while for those businesses whose turnover exceeds 100,000 euros, 31 July 2023 is set.

The main goal and pursuit remains for 2023 to be a landmark year for Greek tax data, where all businesses operating in Greece with the most advanced Tax Electronic Mechanisms (F.H.M.)

At AADE they want to break the “abscess” that exists and while a company is paid for a product or service by credit or debit card, at the same time it does not issue the corresponding receipt with the result that, on the one hand, a part of taxable material is lost and on the other hand it is not returned the VAT that has been collected.

With the new system, cashiers and POS will not work autonomously for debit card transactions. That is, for card payments it will not be allowed to enter the payment amount by typing in the POS. The amount will be withdrawn directly from the cash register.

As provided for in a regulation included in the multi-bill of the Ministry of Finance which is in the Parliament, from now on anyone who is found not paying VAT (tax evasion) will pay heavy fines that can reach up to 50,000 euros.

Specifically, with the new system, the control will be carried out as follows:

1. The transaction starts from the Tax Electronic Mechanism (FEM), i.e. the sophisticated cash registers for retail transactions. The operator (employee or shopkeeper) selects “card payment” and the FIM sends a related request to the EFT/POS card payment system.

2. The EFT/POS system automatically confirms receipt of the request to the cash register, placing it on hold for the result.

3. The POS connects to the payment service provider (bank or equivalent payment service) and receives information if there was: a) online approval or b) offline approval or c) offline rejection or d) interruption of the transaction.

4. The EFT/POS system responds to the cashier with the final result: reject or approve. In addition, at the same time as the approval, it also sends the basic details of the transaction (transaction number, approval code, etc.) as well as data for printing the receipt from the cashier.

5. The cash register confirms receipt of the final result. In the event that this confirmation, for any reason, is not documented by the EFT/POS system, then the EFT/POS creates a relevant flag for the transaction not being processed by the tax mechanism