Its new application was launched today, Tuesday, October 17 Ministry of Interior concerning the registration and transparency of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), which can be accessed through the Single Digital Portal gov.gr and at the address okoip.gov.gr.

The O.Koi.P. are non-state, non-governmental, non-profit organizations established and active in Greece and based on private initiative.

This creates a complete framework of transparency and accountability of the O.Koi.P. In the two distinct databases included in the new application – the Public Database and the Special Register – the O.Koi.P. and Public Beneficial Bodies declare information on their establishment, administrative bodies, their operation and the state funding they receive.

Registration in the databases of the Ministry of the Interior has a high degree of requirements and is a guarantee of transparency. Non-profit organizations that choose to register with them enjoy benefits such as tax incentives to enhance their charitable activities and access to claiming state funding.

Free access to the two new databases of the Ministry of the Interior allows the information of anyone interested in the registration of an O.Koi.P in order, for example, to cooperate with her, to make a donation to her, to be informed for reasons of transparency and trust.

The difference between the Public Database and the Special Register lies in the type and number of supporting documents required, the amount of potential state funding to which the right to claim is acquired and the range of tax incentives from which the registered organizations and bodies benefit.

In particular, the registration in the Public Database provides benefits such as access to claiming state funding up to 50,000 euros per year and tax reliefs such as exemption from special real estate tax and from VAT for the provision of services and the delivery of goods with the opportunity events. The registration in the Public Database is done once, by submitting a relevant application in the application, attaching the required supporting documents and paying a fee in favor of the State in the amount of 20 euros.

Accordingly, registration in the Special Register requires additional supporting documents such as proof of tax awareness, insurance awareness certificate and audit report of a chartered accountant. Therefore, registration on this basis offers further benefits to the registered O.Coi.P. For example, the right to claim state funding is guaranteed regardless of the amount and additional tax incentives are provided to strengthen the public benefit action of registered OCs. Among other things, a forty percent (40%) tax reduction on donations is foreseen, the non-calculation of presumptive income for real estate grantors and the exemption from ENFIA and vehicle registration taxes of registered O.Koi.P. The initial registration in the Special Register requires the payment of a fee in favor of the State in the amount of 200 euros, while an annual renewal of the registration is provided upon payment of a corresponding fee of 50 euros.

It is noted that when an O.Koi.P is registered in the Special Register, it is automatically registered in the Public Database. On the contrary, the registration of an O.Coi.P in the Public Database does not mean its automatic inclusion in the Special Register.

The Minister of the Interior Niki Kerameos stated: “In order to further shield social contribution, the social good of volunteering, the need to have a full framework of transparency and accountability of Civil Society Organizations becomes imperative. In this direction, we are establishing two new, modern databases pursuant to Law 4873/2021, which strengthen integrity, transparency, and sound financial management. Our goal is to strengthen the work of voluntary organizations, to provide healthy incentives.’