Tax arrears owed to Greece’s Independent Authority for Public Revenue (IAPR) have climbed to €114.57 billion, according to the latest official data. Over the past year, overdue tax debts rose by €3.77 billion. More than 4.2 million taxpayers currently hold open accounts with the state — meaning they owe unpaid taxes or penalties.
A Small Slice of Debt Is Actually Collectible
The picture painted by these figures reveals a stark reality: the tax authority effectively collects from only a small fraction of the total debt. A significant portion is deemed uncollectible — either because it’s legally unrecoverable or tied to cases where enforcement is highly unlikely. This assessment comes from the State Budget Office’s report presented to Parliament.
On a monthly basis, however, there was notable improvement in April: the number of debtors dropped by 545,788 compared to March. That decline is largely attributed to the payment of the first instalment of the ENFIA property tax — reversing a seasonal uptick that had occurred earlier in the year.
Uncollectible Debts on the Rise
Of the total overdue amount, €35.53 billion — roughly 31% — has already been officially classified as uncollectible. According to the same report, this figure is expected to rise significantly: another €7 billion is currently undergoing classification, which would push the uncollectible total close to €42 billion.
Breakdown of What’s Still Collectible
The realistically collectible portion of overdue tax debt stands at approximately €79 billion. Within that:
- Tax liabilities — €52.37 billion (66.26% of the collectible total)
- Fines — €17.45 billion (22.09%)
- Non-tax obligations — €9.2 billion (11.65%), including loans, court fees, and other administrative charges
Among tax debts specifically, VAT dominates: €24.74 billion in outstanding VAT liabilities represent 47.23% of all tax-related arrears. Income tax follows closely at 42.17%, while property taxes account for just 5.33% — totaling €2.79 billion.
Concentration Among Large Debtors
The distribution of debt is highly skewed. Tax liabilities exceeding €10,000 make up 96.57% of the entire overdue balance. Even more striking: debtors owing over €1 million constitute only 0.24% of all taxpayers but hold 75.53% of the total arrears.
Natural persons collectively owe €43.53 billion — 38% of the total. Legal entities (companies, corporations, etc.) owe €71.04 billion — 62% of the total. In the highest-debt bracket (over €1 million), legal entities account for over 70% of the outstanding balance.
Few Debts Are Under Payment Plans
Only 6.83% of the realistically collectible arrears — about €5.39 billion — are currently covered by formal repayment arrangements. The low uptake suggests limited participation in existing debt settlement schemes — a challenge for both revenue collection and taxpayer compliance efforts.