Tax arrears owed to the Greek tax authority rose to €2.819 billion in the first quarter of 2026, up from €2.715 billion during the same period in 2025 — an increase of 3.83%, according to data from the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (IAPR).
Newly Accrued Arrears Up 6.4%
The IAPR also reported that newly accrued tax arrears — i.e., unpaid taxes that became overdue during the reporting period — reached €3.023 billion in Q1 2026, compared to €2.841 billion in Q1 2025, marking a 6.41% rise.
March Figures Show Modest Growth
In March 2026 alone, newly accrued arrears totaled €888 million, up slightly from €881 million a year earlier (+0.79%). However, when excluding ten non-tax-related categories, newly accrued arrears stood at €840 million — down 1.52% from €853 million in March 2025.
Recoveries Also on the Rise
Collection efforts against newly accrued arrears yielded €297 million in March 2026, up 4.58% from €284 million in March 2025. For the full first quarter of 2026, total collections against newly accrued arrears amounted to €656 million — a 5.98% increase over the €619 million collected in Q1 2025.
Background: New 72-Month Payment Plan
The IAPR launched an extraordinary 72-month debt settlement scheme in April 2026, aimed at helping taxpayers regain financial stability and gradually clear their obligations. Over 96% of newly accrued arrears in both March and Q1 2026 stem from core tax categories, including income tax, VAT, and social security contributions.