Greece's Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE) is expanding its digital surveillance system to cover a wider range of businesses, starting this summer with event venues hosting weddings, baptisms, and corporate parties.
The move is part of a broader effort by the AADE to crack down on tax evasion and underreporting of transactions, utilizing its advanced digital customer log system, or "ψηφιακό πελατολόγιο."
Following recent implementations in car repair shops, rental companies, parking lots, car washes, and tire services, the AADE’s digital oversight will soon include event venues and reception halls, gyms, beauty salons, physiotherapy clinics, dance schools, and hotels and organized accommodations.
The system works by cross-referencing client activity with reported receipts via the MyData e-invoicing platform, aiming to identify discrepancies that could indicate undeclared income.
The digital system automates what used to be a manual "book of clients." Businesses scan license plates and issued receipts upon vehicle entry and exit.
This allows for real-time matching of customer presence with corresponding financial records, enabling the AADE to flag inconsistencies and conduct targeted audits remotely.
For example, in a repair shop, the car’s plate number is scanned upon entry, and the receipt or invoice is scanned and uploaded upon exit.
If a vehicle’s presence isn’t matched with a valid transaction, the system can trigger immediate inspections.
AADE officials state that this system streamlines operations and reduces risks for businesses by automating client registration and updates, eliminating manual documentation, and linking customer entries with receipts to simplify tax compliance.
The system's safeguards help businesses avoid mistakes or omissions that previously resulted in fines.
In parallel, mandatory electronic invoicing for business-to-business transactions will begin this fall, following approval by the European Commission.
This aims to eliminate fake invoices and VAT fraud by ensuring that both issuers and recipients confirm invoice data and by automatically cross-checking transactions with bank records.
The rollout starts with large enterprises, eventually expanding to smaller businesses. Incentives for compliance include faster tax refunds, a three-year statute of limitations on audits, and extra depreciation for investments in digital infrastructure.
As the digital net tightens, the AADE is signaling a new era of transparency and control over financial reporting in Greece.