Seized real estate properties held by the Greek tax authority (AADE) are set to re-enter the market, as the Director of AADE is expected to issue a decision in the coming days formalising the implementation of a new legal provision. This measure allows for the lifting of tax-related seizures *before* property transfer — provided the sale generates financial consideration.
The new process applies specifically to properties under seizure by the tax administration due to unpaid tax debts, where the owner intends to sell — not donate or transfer gratuitously — the asset. Once activated, such sales can proceed on the condition that a portion of the purchase price is withheld and paid directly to AADE.
This amount will be collected by the notary public at the time of transfer and must be no less than 25% of the debtor’s current outstanding tax liability. In practical terms, if a taxpayer owes money to the tax office and owns a seized property, they may now sell it — as long as at least one-quarter of their debt is settled from the sale proceeds.
What the Measure Aims to Achieve
The regulation addresses a longstanding practical obstacle in Greece’s real estate market: previously, the mere existence of a tax seizure could halt an otherwise viable transaction — even when a buyer was ready and the state stood to recover part of the debt. Under the new framework, the state collects revenue immediately, while debtors gain the ability to unlock and monetise otherwise frozen property assets.
At the same time, the broader housing market gains a mechanism to move forward with transfers that would otherwise remain ‘frozen’ due to seizure — a timely development amid Greece’s ongoing housing crisis.
The upcoming AADE decision will outline operational details, including how the withholding amount is calculated, how it is transferred to the tax authority, and what steps must be completed before signing the deed. Importantly, this intervention applies only to seizures imposed by the tax administration and to transfers made for valuable consideration — such as sales — not to gifts, inheritances, or other non-commercial transfers. It does not cover other types of encumbrances or legal claims unrelated to tax debt.