A significant reduction was recorded, for yet another year, in the gap VAT in Greece.

The VAT gap in Greece was reduced to 13.7% in 2022 from 17.5% a year earlier according to the data of Commission.

Annual VAT losses were limited to 2.959 billion euros in 2022 but despite the improvement Greece ranks 23rd worst among EU member states where the VAT gap is just 7%.

In total, VAT losses in the EU reach 89 billion. euro.

The relevant AADE announcement in detail:

Based on the European Commission’s official figures published today for 2022 – when the latest data is available -, the VAT gap fell to 13.7%, from 17.5% in 2021. That is, it decreased by 21.7 % within a year.

It is worth noting that, in 2017, the year of establishment of the Independent Public Revenue Authority, the VAT gap in our country was at 29.1%, with the result that within 5 years the VAT gap has decreased by 53%.

At the same time, Greece is in the 4 countries with the lowest VAT gap from “disappeared” merchants, with this varying between 1.0% and 2.0%.

The Governor of the Independent Public Revenue Authority, George Pitsilis, made the following statement: “The continuation of the reduction of the VAT gap, combined with the reduction of the phenomenon of disappearing traders, as officially announced by the European Commission, proves that our efforts to curb tax evasion are bearing fruit. The use of artificial intelligence, the extension of digitization to the entire audit process, the centralization of services and a more targeted approach to audits have raised the level and speed, reducing undeclared taxable material. Above all, these figures mean that we must further intensify our efforts to reduce tax evasion, for the benefit of all consistent citizens and businesses, thus strengthening healthy competition and social justice.