"A record number of tax returns have been filed this year," government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis said during the daily press briefing on Thursday.
"In the first 23 days, more than 1,150,000 tax returns were filed by individuals. This means that they are increased by approximately 150% compared to the corresponding period in 2024 and by 388% compared to 2023," he emphasised, and then referred in detail to the discounts that the immediate submission of tax returns ensures.
The next topic was the IMF report.
"The recent IMF report recognises the significant progress recorded, a development that makes our country a factor of stability. Reference is made to the government's prudent fiscal management," he said and added: "The IMF notes the impact of the government's decisive initiatives to curb tax evasion, while recognising the progress observed in the reduction of non-performing loans, with a positive impact on the domestic banking system, which is recovering rapidly."
He also mentioned that the Fund predicts that with investments as the main lever, the country's real GDP will maintain its upward trajectory and quoted a statement by National Economy and Finance Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis that "economic policy will move with speed and efficiency, so that we can achieve even more for the country, with the ultimate goal of steadily improving the living standards of Greek women and men through real convergence."
He then stated that the implementation of the "My Home II" programme, totaling 2 billion euros, is proceeding "at an unabated pace."
The next topic of the briefing was the amendment submitted on Wednesday by Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy Minister Vasilis Kikilias, which limits port fees by 50% for one year for the benefit of citizens, in order to address any increases that would arise in ticket prices due to the implementation of the EU legislation regarding the transition to "green" fuel.