Greece's Independent Authority for Public Revenue, AADE, is carrying out sweeping inspections on islands and tourist destinations ahead of the mid-August holiday, focusing on tavernas, cafeterias, beach bars and other tourist businesses. Complaints submitted by citizens through the Appodixi app and other online platforms are a key tool for identifying tax violations.
According to figures presented by the authority, about 225,000 complaints have been filed in total through the Appodixi app, of which more than 110,500 were submitted by named individuals. The most common violations reported by citizens involve failing to issue receipts, issuing fake or invalid receipts, and issuing receipts that are never transmitted to the tax administration's information system.
Citizen complaints platform
Separately, more than 97,000 reports have been logged through AADE's citizen complaints platform, of which about 10,000 were submitted by named individuals and are being examined as a priority by the relevant services.
Inspectors are targeting businesses operating in sectors with a high tax risk index, as well as those with a history of violations. The list of businesses being checked includes tavernas, restaurants, cafes, beach bars, car and boat rental companies, accommodations, travel agencies and water sports businesses.
Nationwide inspection plan
AADE's 2026 operational plan calls for more than 190,000 inspections, investigations and targeted actions against tax evasion, smuggling and financial crime. Particular emphasis is placed on the tourist season, with inspection teams concentrating on the Cyclades, the Dodecanese, Crete and the Ionian islands. Inspections are not limited to popular destinations, however, as businesses across the whole country remain within the scope of the checks.
By combining on-site inspections, complaints, digital data and analysis of behavioral patterns, AADE is trying to identify tax evasion more effectively. Officials are examining indicators such as declared receipts that are low relative to POS transactions, frequent cancellations of receipts, discrepancies between purchases and sales, delayed transmission of data, and unusually low VAT returns.
In a related measure, failing to declare or filing a late declaration of the acquisition of a cash register carries a fine of 500 euros.
