In double, suffocating control string will be found throughout the tourist season the businesses in tourism, whether they are hotel-based, catering, or exploiting beaches. The audits will include both fiscal nature and compliance with the legality regarding existing and new coastal concessions and beaches.

AADE auditors are on duty

Thousands of seasonal businesses operating during the tourist season will be targeted by the tax audit mechanism. For the first time since this year, tax will be imposed in advance on those suspected of tax evasion. This decision has been taken because many of them in previous years began their operations by faithfully fulfilling their obligations and then disappeared, leaving unpaid taxes and VAT.

At the same time, the Independent Public Revenue Authority (AADE) is starting the implementation of the new Audit Plan in Islands and tourist destinations. Equipped with tablets and portable scanners, AADE inspectors carry out “double” on-site inspections.

Precisely, this process means that the auditors have access to the profile of the audited companies and cross-check the data reported in their tax declaration with the actual data resulting from the operation of the company. In addition, the intermediate tax is a new measure provided by the new Tax Procedure Code. This gives the AADE the ability to impose advance tax in cases where there are suspicions of tax evasion. It is important that this enforcement is done even before the submission of the tax return.

The checks carried out by AADE on islands and tourist destinations are structured on two levels. Initially, there is a first visit by AADE employees, while a second visit follows by auditors from a different area. Finally, the Public Revenue Audit and Assurance Service (YEDDE) undertakes the audit based on all the information gathered from the previous visits, strengthening the audits with a targeted approach.

The myData system plays an important role in the control process. This provides the possibility to compare this year’s with last year’s business activity, allowing data to be transmitted to the relevant services for further analysis and checks. In addition, the algorithms look for information about the assets of the auditees, including deposits and real estate, offering a comprehensive picture of their tax situation.

These controls are a crucial part of tax policy, as they contribute to effective tax enforcement and the elimination of tax evasion. Through these audits, tax fairness is enhanced, as citizens and businesses must comply with tax laws and fulfill their obligations. The revenue generated from these audits contributes to the support of public services and the development of the country, thereby helping to maintain and improve social and economic prosperity.

Aegialos – Beaches

The checks started in Halkidiki, with the use of drones, represent an important step towards the strengthening of surveillance on the beaches and the implementation of the new rules legislated by the Ministry of National Economy and Finance. With these controls, the government seeks to ensure citizens’ free access to the beaches, protect the environment and improve the quality of the tourism product.

The use of drones allows effective monitoring of beaches and the rapid detection of potential violations. The information gathered from these audits can be used to take action and impose penalties in cases of violation of the new rules.

In addition, the conduct of procedures for new concession contracts for the use of beaches and foreshore in accordance with the new framework provides the possibility to adequately regulate the use of the coastal protection zone and ensure the management of beaches with transparency and respect for the environment and citizens. These initiatives are key to improving the tourist experience and protecting the country’s natural resources.

The implementation of various control methods, in addition to the use of drones, is an important part of the new strategy to ensure legality and transparency in the use of beaches and foreshore. Let’s look at these ways in more detail:

1. Satellite images: The use of satellite images allows the monitoring of large areas and the detection of possible violations with great precision. This information can then be used for additional checks and assessments.

2. Citizen Contribution: The MyCoast app enables citizens to contribute to the monitoring and detection of violations. Through this application, they can submit complaints about violations they observe on the beaches.

3. Mixed levels of control: An integrated control mechanism is created by integrating several agencies. This ensures cooperation and coordination between different services and authorities to effectively supervise the use of beaches. Audit procedures include inspection and assessment of compliance with new regulations and conventions, thus offering a comprehensive control framework and providing the necessary transparency and legitimacy to beach and foreshore management.

The weapons against tax evasion in the quiver of AADE

The competent Ministry of National Finance and Finance reports that they now have the necessary arsenal to ensure the observance of legality and to strengthen the sense of justice in all directions.

In the tax sector, already this year there are various tools such as MyDATAthe interconnection of cash registers with POS and others, which have strengthened the quiver of AADE auditors. These tools promise spectacular results and increase public revenue through improved tax oversight.

Regarding the coastal sector, the new procedure for concessions is in full swing, which is now carried out exclusively through the special digital platform (https://eauctions.gsis.gr). By Friday 31 May, all online auctions for over 1,200 concessions had been posted.

At the same time, there are also 6,500 active contracts as well as highly protected beaches and beaches, also known as “cheat beaches”, located in Natura areas, where concessions and, by extension, the placement of umbrellas, sunbeds, etc. are prohibited. In all beaches, whether they are new or existing concessions, the same regulations and the same framework of controls and fines for possible violations will apply from this year.

The new image will be fully formed by the end of June, when the relevant installation procedures for the new concessionaires are expected to be completed.