Greek Tourist Hotspots Are The Biggest Tax Evaders

A sweeping series of tax audits carried out by Greece’s Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE) between May and September 2025 has revealed the regions and sectors with the highest rates of tax evasion — with the country’s most popular tourist destinations topping the list.

According to official data, the regions showing the highest levels of tax violations were Western Greece, Central Greece, the Peloponnese, Crete, and the South Aegean. In some areas, such as Corinthia and Euboea, violations exceeded 47% of inspected businesses.

In contrast, tax compliance remained strongest in Northern Aegean islands and parts of Macedonia and Thrace, where violations were as low as 20%.

AADE’s inspections focused heavily on tourism-related sectors — restaurants, bars, hotels, and beach services — with 41% of all audits targeting such enterprises. Roughly one in three of these businesses were found to have violated tax rules.

Inspectors also conducted targeted raids following intelligence reports, including the high-profile “Cruise Operation”on pleasure boats in Santorini, Kos, and other islands.

Across the country, 300 businesses were hit with fines and temporary shutdowns of 48 hours or more. Violations included unreported receipts, unlinked POS systems, and unissued invoices. In total, €2.59 million in fines were imposed for 202 cases of non-connected POS terminals.

• In Heraklion, Crete, a restaurant failed to transmit 18,515 receipts worth €275,000 to the e-send platform and received a fine and a 4-day closure.

• In Paros, a carpentry business hid €111,000 in untaxed sales and was fined €33,360.85.

• In Mykonos, a souvenir shop failed to issue receipts worth €107,000 across 2021–2022, evading €26,000 in VAT.

• In Serres, a pastry shop withheld over 13,000 receipts valued at more than €102,000.

• In Santorini, two beach bars were fined and shut for two days for not issuing receipts totaling €2,785.

Tax evasion was also rampant among beach umbrella and sunbed rental businesses, beauty salons, and personal care services across major cities and islands, leading to dozens of closures.

AADE said the campaign will continue nationwide, with intensified checks in tourism-heavy areas as Greece seeks to clamp down on tax evasion and ensure fair competition.