Greece

Social security contributions

Social security contributions are due on salary and benefits in cash or in kind granted by an employer to its employees, with the exception of specifically enumerated extraordinary benefits of social character (e.g. marriage gifts, birth gifts). More specifically, as per the benefits in kind, said benefits might only be exempted from social security contributions as long as they:

• are offered voluntarily by the employer and for the better serving of the employer's operational need, also contributing to the increase of the employees' productivity and the better quality of the employee's workplace, or
• constitute a measure adopted for the hygiene and safety of the employees, as well as 
• are offered personally to the employees and not in cash.

The imposition of social security contributions depends on the social security fund in which the employee is registered.

As of 1 January 2025, the social security contributions will amount to 13.37% at the level of the employee and 21.79% at the level of the employer, i.e. 35.16% in total. The monthly social security contribution cap for the primary social security fund (EFKA) is set at EUR 7,572.62 from 1 January 2025.

Consumption taxes

Value-added tax (VAT)

The VAT rate is 24%. The reduced rate on basic necessities is 13%. A super reduced rate of 6% is also available for certain items.

Furthermore, following the issuance of a relevant decision by the Minister of Finance, the above rates are applied reduced by 30% and are set at 17%, 9% and 4% respectively on the islands of Leros, Lesvos, Kos, Samos and Chios.

See the Other taxes section in the Corporate tax summary for more information.

Unified Real Estate Ownership Tax (ENFIA)

The Unified Real Estate Ownership Tax (ENFIA) has been levied in Greece since 2014 under Law 4223/2013 and, as of 18 July 2025, under Law 5219/2025 (the Property Tax Code).

The ENFIA applies to all types of rights in rem over real estate located in Greece that are held by natural persons, legal persons, or legal entities of any kind as of 1 January of each year.

• For natural persons, the total tax comprises the main tax, which is calculated for each property based on its specific characteristics—including geographical location, area, use, age, floor level, and number of building facades—together with an additional charge that applies only where the total value of the individual's real estate exceeds €500,000.
• For legal entities, the tax similarly consists of a main tax calculated on each property according to its particular characteristics, plus an additional tax computed on the aggregate value of all real estate held by the entity.

The tax assessment is carried out electronically, without requiring the submission of a separate return. The calculation is based on the ownership status of the taxpayer—whether a natural person or legal entity—as reflected in the real estate declaration (E9) data recorded as of 1 January of each tax year.

Pursuant to the provisions of the Law 5162/2024, starting from the year 2025, and for subsequent years,ENFIA for insured individuals' residences will be reduced by 20%, provided that the taxable value of the property does not exceed EUR 500,000. If the property's value exceeds this threshold, the reduction remains at 10%. To qualify for this exemption, the insurance must cover the previous year and have a minimum duration of three months. If the insurance duration is less than one year, the real estate tax reduction will be applied proportionally.

Pursuant to the provisions of the new Tax Law 5246/2025, starting from the year 2026, ENFIA is reduced by 50% for individuals, tax residents of Greece, whose main residence is located in villages with a population of up to 1,500 inhabitants, according to the most recent population census, excluding the settlements of the Attica Region, except for the Regional Unit of the Islands.

Specifically for the Regional Unit of Evros, the limit is set at 1,700 inhabitants. The exemption concerns exclusively the rights over the main residence of the persons in the present case located in these settlements and provided that the total value of 100% of the full ownership of the residence calculated for the purposes of imposing the tax does not exceed 400,000 euros.

Inheritance Tax

The taxation of inheritances, donations, and parental benefits (grants) originally regulated by Law 2961/2001 and later by Law 5219/2025 (A' 130/18-07-2025 Property Tax Code – Part B) applies to any individual, legal person, or legal entity that acquires property through death, donation, or parental gift.

Pursuant to the Greek tax legislation, Inheritance Tax is assessed on the current value of the property inherited. The said property includes any kind of movable and immovable property located in Greece, regardless of the descendant’s nationality. The taxable value of real estate property inherited is the 'objective value' (it is calculated on the basis of certain predetermined factors set by the Ministry of Finance) on the day of death of the deceased. Immovable assets located abroad are not subject to Greek Inheritance Tax, regardless of nationality and residency.Certain tax exemptions are also regulated in the Greek legal framework following certain conditions.

Taxable Person

The beneficiaries of the inheritance, depending on their relationship to the deceased, are classified in three categories A, B and C.

Category A includes:

• The deceased's spouse or cohabitation partner (under a cohabitation agreement);
• A cohabitation partner under Law 3719/2008, where the relationship lasted at least two years and was terminated by death;
• First-degree descendants (children from marriage, cohabitation, or born out of wedlock if legally recognized);
• Second-degree blood descendants; and
• First-degree blood ascendants.

Category B includes:

• blood relatives from the third degree onward (descendants and collateral relatives) and from the second degree onward (ascendants);
• recognised children in relation to the recognising parent's ascendants, and vice versa;
• half-siblings;
• stepparents and stepchildren; and
• relatives by affinity (children-in-law and parents-in-law).

Category C includes any other relative of the deceased by blood or affinity or exotic.

Tax-Free Limits and Tax Rates

Property of any kind obtained through inheritance is subject to taxation, with rates calculated according to specific tax scales that vary depending on the beneficiary's category.

Donation tax and parental grant

Donation tax and parental grant (i.e. transfer of assets while the transferor is alive) are assessed on the current value of the property donated. Taxable property includes any kind of movable and immovable property located in Greece. The tax rates are graduated and vary considerably, depending on the relationship between donor and donee. In general, tax liabilities arise upon receipt of gifts and are paid by the donee. The acquisition of real estate property through donation is subject to the same tax scale as inheritance tax. The respective tax return should be submitted to the competent Greek tax office before the signing of the contract.

Tax free limits and tax rates

When property other than monetary amounts is acquired through donation or parental grant from donors classified under categories A, B, or C, such acquisitions are subject to taxation based on the tax scales applicable to inheritances.

In contrast, the acquisition of monetary amounts through donation or parental grant is taxed independently at differentiated rates according to the beneficiary's category: ten percent for those in category A, twenty percent for those in category B, and forty percent for those in category C. A specific regime applies to beneficiaries in category A, whereby parental grants or donations of any asset—including monetary transfers made through financial institutions—are taxed at a rate of ten percent, but only after the application of a one-time tax-free allowance of eight hundred thousand (800,000) euros.

Real estate transfer tax (Inially Law 1587/1950-New Law 5219/2025 -New Property Tax Code)

Each real estate transfer that is not subject to VAT is liable to real estate transfer tax, initially regulated by Law 1587/1950 and now regulated by Law 5219/2025 (New Property Tax Code).

Tax Rates

• The transfer tax on the ownership of real estate or real rights in rem over real estate is calculated at three percent (3%) on the taxable value thereof.
• The real estate transfer tax is reduced to a quarter (1/4) in the following cases: 
  • when property is distributed equally among co-owners (with a 3% tax applying to any additional payment made to equalize unequal portions, and credit given for taxes paid on partial joint ownerships in subsequent distributions), or when a general partnership, limited partnership, LLC, or private equity company dissolves and transfers its real estate to members proportionally to their shares (with the taxable value reduced for shares not assigned during the year before dissolution, and tax calculated only on the value of real estate exiting the company's assets when partners withdraw).

• The real estate transfer tax is reduced by half (1/2) in the following cases:
  • involving mandatory exchanges of adjacent plot portions to enable buildability, corporate mergers or acquisitions (including joint stock companies and cooperatives) that result in the transfer of immovable property or real rights thereto under applicable tax incentive legislation, expropriations for public benefit, or exchanges of properties of equal value

Certain tax exemptions from real estate transfer tax on the purchase of first dwelling are now regulated by Law 5219/2025.

Other duties

Municipality Duty (called Telos Akinitis Periousias or TAP-Article 24 Law 2130/1993)

Real estate ownership in Greece is subject to a Municipality Duty.

This duty applicable to both natural and legal persons, is collected via electricity bills for the benefit of Municipalities. It is calculated at a rate between 0.025% and 0.035% on the property’s objective value and, where applicable, further adjusted by a coefficient reflecting the building’s age. Until recently, the validity of a real estate transfer deed required the attachment of a certificate evidencing full payment of TAP. This requirement has been abolished pursuant to Article 33 of Law 5076/2023.

Duty for the provision of cleaning and lighting services

A duty in compensation for the collection of garbage and waste and for the lighting of the streets, collected by the electricity bill, is due from the user of real estate. According to the relevant law provisions, these duties are calculated by multiplying the property's square metres by a certain rate determined by the Municipal Council.

Tax on electrified spaces

The Municipal Council may levy a tax on real estate connected to the grid, the collection of which is effected through the electricity bill. The tax is calculated by multiplying the real estate’s square metres by a rate determined by the Municipal or Community Council ranging between EUR 0.018 and EUR 0.073. The said rate can be increased every year up to 20%.