By Chrysostomos Tsoufis

The classic movie “The Postman Always Knocks Twice” is about the inevitability of fate and the consequences of one’s actions.

In addition to the postman, TWICE also knocks for sure AADE. That’s why those who didn’t pay the 2019 road tax and thought they’d get away with it, better… think again. Because 5 years later – at the end of the limitation period – AADE comes to “ring” their bell.

Relevant decision of the head of the Authority, Giorgos Pitsilisdescribes the process of debt collection.

In the first phase an e-mail message will be sent to all vehicle owners who owe for the traffic fees of 2019 (deceased and disabled persons excluded). In the message, the debtor will be informed that – in order to be exempt from the fees – through the myCar application, he will be able to declare the actual condition of his vehicle in the year in question, by submitting the appropriate supporting document. He will also be informed that he has a deadline until October 31.

After October 31st, owners can, through the “My Requests” application, declare their objection to their debt, of course attaching the appropriate supporting documents. But the difference here is that the process of certifying the fees is not stopped.

Access to the application will be done with codes Taxisnet. Through the application, the owner declares the condition of the vehicle together with the required supporting documents not only for the year of debt but also for subsequent years (e.g. stolen, written off, immobile, exempt).

Those who are not notified centrally by mail, the D.O.Y will find them locally and send them registered letters.

It goes without saying that in cases where the taxpayer is unable to prove why he should be exempted from road taxes (insufficient or no supporting documents), the fees will be certified plus the applicable fine equal to the due fees. The certification of debts will be completed according to the schedule by December 3.

In cases where the vehicle owner subsequently submits supporting documents exempting him either from the fees and the fine or only from the fine, these are accepted by the tax administration and the debt is written off on a case-by-case basis.

Through this process, the tax authorities will update – based on the declarations of the owners – the status of each vehicle in the Vehicle Information System until November 26, approximately 25 days after the application is closed.

For example, if a vehicle is found to have been in circulation abroad for more than one year, then its image is corrected for all years (immobilized for the corresponding period of time).

For cases where delivery to a hardware collector/loss is declared, and there is no appropriate supporting document other than a responsible declaration, the image of the vehicle is not corrected, however a relevant note is entered.