“VAT revenues in the first half reached 10.3% more than the first half from 2023 and come from the development and the interconnection of POS with cash registers,” the Minister of National Affairs told SKAI 100.3 Economy and Finance Kostis Hatzidakis.

“I couldn’t be in the minister’s position and do nothing, when thousands of freelancers declare that they live on 260 euros a month,” he then said, referring to imputed income taxation.

“This year the income from taxes on the self-employed was increased by 600 million euros, while another 100 million was cut from benefits they received because of the low income they declared,” he noted indicatively.

On her forehead tax evasionthe Minister of Finance underlined that “we are surprised by court decisions that allow the reopening of gas stations that we seal for tax evasion”, stressing, however, that the measures implemented are working.

He then referred to its reduction LIGHT by 35%, to the increase of the tax-free allowance for children, to the abolition of tax on parental benefits and the tax-free acquisition of government bonds.

“In 600 cases, we cancel the stamp. We reduced VAT on transport and catering and it stayed reduced,” he continued, adding: “We have to balance income and expenses as we are judged by markets. Based on the fiscal rules we have scenarios for increasing spending with the European objectives. It enables us to raise €3 billion:

  • 1 billion for an increase in regular expenses for fixed public expenses and mainly more expenses for Education and Health.
  • 1 billion for increasing pensions. 400 million more due to an increase with a mathematical formula for pensioners and 600 million more for more pensioners than last year.
  • 856 million more for defense.

We don’t want to spend more than we take in

“As long as I am in the Ministry Economically, we cannot allow the economy to derail. We do not spend more than what we have and a pro-investment policy to increase investments, exports to have more and better jobs.

Regarding pensioners, the minister emphasized that despite the dramatic cuts “we are by far the first country to support pensions from the budget. Half the money is from their contributions and the other half from the taxpayers.”

Direct taxes and VAT

We give half the money from the budget, so any increase in pensions and pensioners due to demographics affects the budget. Of course, the pretension fee concerns freelancers. 50% was removed last year. The other 50% from next year.
To the freelancers what we did was socially fair to salaried and pensioners who paid higher taxes than the average freelancer.

Those who do not fall under the presumption, declared more incomes and that is why we collect more taxes from them. Those who fall under the presumption declared 268 euros per month.

11 initiatives for tax evasion

  • Fuel. We have the strictest legislation. Sealing is foreseen and we have seals, but we have decisions that we respect but which open the gas stations. We are surprised by the decisions but we do our job.
  • Accuracy. A number of very positive interventions have been forgotten. This is how we overcome the investment stage. For the loans we took this year we will pay 800 million less.
  • Ten different privatizations in the last 10 months.