“The government’s tax policy ensures more revenue for the State by combining tax reduction with initiatives to combat tax evasion, which for the first time since the post-colonial period have a concrete and measurable result. The extra revenue goes back into society to fund social and national policy.” pointed out the Minister of National Economy and Finance Kostis Hatzidakis during his speech to the Plenary of the Parliament on the tax bill.

“The battle to combat tax evasion and the growth of the economy led in 2024 to more revenue, beyond what was foreseen in the budget: 1 billion euros from VAT, 800 million by the legal entities with the application of the new tools (MyData etc.), 1 billion due to the reduction of unemployment and the increases in wages, and therefore the withholding of taxes, 300 million. from the extraordinary levy on refineries, and another 500 million which also have to do with the development of the economy. prevailing, as he saidto some, the image that in the government there are some “stingers” who keep the money in contrast to the “cheers” of the opposition who want to distribute it.

According to the data presented by the minister, this money was allocated to the following expenses:

-Increased receipts from equipment programs, 110 million

-Additional compensations from ELGA, 40 million

-Tackling the effects of the climate crisis, 88 million

-Increase in the budget of the Ministry of Education, 131 million

-Increase in the budget of the Ministry of Health, 346 million

-Additional expenditure for pensions, 644 million

-Public Investment Program, 1.3 billion

-Increase in compensation for on-call doctors, 45 million

-Birth allowance, 90 million

-Strengthening pensioners with a personal difference and vulnerable population groups, 243 million

“We combine fairness and efficiency with common sense policies. With lower ones taxes we have more revenue. We thus implement a social policy with a stronger footprint and have the fiscal space to proceed with further tax reductions in 2026 and 2027, with an emphasis on direct taxes because that is where the benefit is seen directly by the citizen“, noted the minister. He also listed the total of 72 tax cuts made in the last 5.5 years noting indicatively that the reduction in corporate taxes, dividends and the input rate of personal income tax from 22 to 9%, combined with the growth of the economy, led to more revenue. “These are the truly progressive ideas and not the cobwebbed dogmas of the past“, said Mr. Hatzidakis.

Referring to individual provisions of the bill and interventions by opposition MPs, the minister stated the following:

-The bill includes 12 tax reductions (insurance contributions, tax exemption for vacant rented properties, extension of VAT exemption for new constructions, etc.) and 12 salary increases (increase in pensions and salaries in the State, incentives to attract doctors to remote areas, etc. .), very specific and with specific recipients, signed by Nea Democracy.

-There is a big intervention to change the production model with incentives for business growth and innovation that are the strongest in the EU, to encourage young entrepreneurs to develop their ideas here. “The companies that will benefit from the excess depreciation employ workers. I don’t believe that the KKE is bothered by the hiring of the unemployed”, said Mr. Hatzidakis.

-The budget for dealing with the effects of climate change has been doubled. “Instead of being apathetic and apologizing later, we are moving forward with compulsory insurance for businesses with revenues over 500,000 euros, the resilience fee which is rewarding because the money goes to shielding these areas and the cruise fee for hyper tourism in Mykonos and Santorini. We know it is not pleasant but we must consider what is useful“, said Mr. Hatzidakis.

-Structural interventions are included in the AADE with the addition of three deputy administrators and with the possibility of hiring general managers from the private sector for non-tax responsibilities as is the case in EFKA and DYPA. “Is it such a big sin? Greeks too, not children of an inferior god”said the minister. While in relation to the renewal of the term of office of the commander, he mentioned on the one hand that it has brought results and on the other hand that the opposition, while it had the possibility, never invited him to the Parliament for a hearing.

-In the matter of submitting tax returns, in consultation with the Chamber of Commerce, a change of paradigm is implemented on the one hand with specific dates, without extensions and on the other hand with the provision of fines not on the services that are late but on their heads.

“Our policy has a specific account. We are not miracle workers, we found an extremely difficult situation in 2019 and every day we are healing wounds. The opposition, on the other hand, indulges in a permanent catastrophizing and at the same time believes that it has the magic recipe for Greece to become Sweden. We tried in our country the populists who made the poor poorer and exacerbated the problems. We will stay on the path of responsibility, seriousness and reforms for the benefit of the many“, concluded Mr. Hatzidakis.