Despite new tax regulations, half of Greece's self-employed professionals reported an average monthly income of only 268 euros in 2023.
This starkly contrasts with wage earners in the formal economy, who continue to be the country's most financially robust taxpayers.
The discrepancy highlights the persistent issue of tax evasion and avoidance in Greece, estimated to cost tens of billions of euros annually. Though the new calculation method for self-employed professionals' income generated an additional 440 million euros in expected revenues, it remains a small fraction of the potential tax base.
The government maintains that the new system is a step towards fairness and expanding the tax base, a long-standing goal for successive Greek governments and a key demand from international creditors. However, the massive "tax hole" continues to deprive the state of vital funds for healthcare, education, infrastructure, and other priorities, while also distorting Greece's ranking in international indexes measuring wealth and poverty.