Since January, sweeping inspections by tax authorities at some of the most popular nightclubs in Athens and Thessaloniki have revealed that tax evasion remains widespread in these venues.
The Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE) employed a combination of advanced remote monitoring and on-site inspections to conduct regular checks on 21 of the highest-earning clubs in both cities.
Launched on January 11 and carried out every Saturday over several weeks, the operation – “Saturday Night Fever” – uncovered that many of these clubs were systematically failing to issue receipts. In the first week, receipts amounted to roughly €821,000, but this figure soared to over €1 million on subsequent Saturdays as inspections continued.
The tax authority’s use of cutting-edge digital tools and data analysis techniques helped uncover significant discrepancies in revenue reporting. These technologies allowed inspectors to monitor venues in real-time, comparing declared and actual revenues.
AADE inspectors relied on data from booking platforms, social media posts, and Google Maps to gather additional information. This data enabled them to estimate attendance numbers and identify irregularities. [AMNA]