For the tenth consecutive year this year, the Center for Liberal Studies presents in Greece the study on Tax Freedom Daythat is, the day on which Greek taxpayers would be freed from the burden of taxes and contributions, if with the money they earned from their work they had to, before covering their own needs, first repay their obligations to the state .

Specifically, “for 175 of the 365 days of the year we are projected to work in 2024 just to pay taxes and contributions to the state, with Tax Freedom Day falling this year on June 25—a 3-day improvement over 2023 and 9 days compared to 2022″, points out KEFIM.

In fact, “the 175 working days for the state foreseen for 2024 is the lowest tax burden of the last 10 years”. Additionally, “from 2019 to the 2024 projections, the tax burden has decreased by 6 days, from 181 to 175 days.”

However, it adds, “if the General Government deficit for 2024 is factored in, which represents future taxes, then Tax Freedom Day for 2024 comes 5 days later on June 30th. According to the accounting data of ELSTAT, in 2023 we worked for the state for 178 days (HFE: June 28), while if the deficit of the General Government is taken into account, then the Tax Freedom Day for 2023 came 7 days later, on July 5.

Compared to our European partners and among the 27 EU member states, “Greece has the 11th lowest tax burden (including deficits), improving its performance by 10 places compared to 2022, when it was in 21st place”.

However, to the question of how far our taxes go, KEFIM answers that, “according to OECD data, the satisfaction of Greek citizens (2023) with the health system is the lowest among the 21 EU member states cfor which there are elements, while respectively, in the satisfaction of the citizens with the educational system and the judicial system, the country is in 16th and 17th place respectively”.

Commenting on this year’s results, the general director of the Center for Liberal Studies, Nikos Rompapas, said: “The reduction in the tax burden recorded in recent years on Tax Freedom Day is a positive development first of all for citizens and households facing the wave of accuracy. This tax relief is expected to improve the position of Greece also in the Economic Freedom Index, specifically in the field of the size of the state, thus strengthening the prospects for investments in the country. In any case, the reduction of the tax burden, but also the further readjustment of the tax system in the direction of greater simplicity, neutrality and stability must continue. A tolerable, simple, neutral and stable tax system is a prerequisite for the dynamic development of the country, the real strengthening of household incomes and the sustainable strengthening of state revenues”, concludes N. Rompapas in his statement.