This Greece tax guide covers the rules in force from 1 January 2026, when Law 5246/2025 delivered the largest income-tax cut in a generation: a new 9%–44% scale with a fresh 39% band, zero tax for workers under 25, and lower rates for families. Around it sits a genuinely competitive menu — a €100,000 (~$114,000) non-dom flat tax, a 7% regime for foreign pensioners, 5% dividends, 22% corporate tax — plus no wealth tax and an €800,000 (~$910,000) tax-free parental-gift allowance.
Introduction
Greece occupies the south-eastern corner of the EU — a peninsula and 6,000 islands between the Aegean and Ionian seas, bordering Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Albania and Turkey. A eurozone and Schengen member of 10.3 million people, it runs a civil-law system, speaks Greek (with English widely used in business), and offers the Mediterranean’s classic bargain: 250+ days of sunshine and a cost of living well below France or Italy, against a bureaucracy that is digitising fast but still slow by northern standards. A decade after its debt crisis, Greece has regained investment-grade status (2023), runs primary surpluses, and has turned migration policy — golden visas, nomad visas, tax incentives — into an explicit growth strategy.
For internationally-mobile investors this Greece tax guide matters because the country now pairs EU membership with some of the bloc’s most aggressive inbound-resident regimes: the Article 5A non-dom flat tax of €100,000 (~$114,000) a year on all foreign income, the Article 5B 7% flat rate for foreign pensioners, and a 50% income exemption for relocating professionals — all stable, statutory and in force in 2026. The 1 January 2026 reform then cut the ordinary scale itself, trimming every middle band by two points and inserting a 39% band where 44% used to start.
Direct Taxes
Greek tax residents are taxed on worldwide income; non-residents only on Greek-source income. Income is taxed in separate baskets — employment/pensions and business income on the progressive scale, investment income at flat rates (5% dividends, 15% interest, 15% capital gains) — so a resident investor’s effective rate can sit far below the headline 44%. Residence follows the 183-day test or your centre of vital interests; companies are resident where incorporated or effectively managed. The signature concept is the non-dom trio (Articles 5A/5B/5C of the Income Tax Code) — statutory regimes that detach new residents from the ordinary worldwide rules for 7–15 years.
Personal income tax (2026 bands)
| Chargeable income (EUR, USD) | Rate |
|---|---|
| 0 – 10,000 (~$11,400) | 9% |
| 10,001 – 20,000 (~$11,400 – 22,800) | 20% |
| 20,001 – 30,000 (~$22,800 – 34,200) | 26% |
| 30,001 – 40,000 (~$34,200 – 45,600) | 34% |
| 40,001 – 60,000 (~$45,600 – 68,400) | 39% |
| Over 60,000 (over ~$68,400) | 44% |
In force from 1 January 2026 (Law 5246/2025), this scale cut the former 22%/28%/36% middle rates by two points each and split the old top band — 44% previously began at €40,000 (~$45,600), now at €60,000 (~$68,400). Two headline carve-outs: workers under 25 pay 0% on income up to €20,000 (~$22,800) (ages 26–30 pay 9% on the second band), and parents pay reduced rates in the middle bands — down to 0% on the €10,000–20,000 (~$11,400–22,800) band for families with four children. Employment and pension income also carries a tax credit that zeroes tax on modest incomes. The old solidarity surcharge is gone (abolished 2023), and the €650 (~$740) annual business levy on freelancers was abolished from 2025 — though the self-employed face a rebuttable minimum deemed income based on the minimum wage.
Corporate income tax
| Item | Rate |
|---|---|
| Standard corporate income tax (since 2021) | 22% |
| Credit institutions (deferred-tax regime) | 29% |
| Shipping — tonnage tax regime | Fixed per-ton, not profit-based |
| Pillar Two minimum tax — groups ≥ €750m (~$855m) revenue (Law 5100/2024) | 15% minimum |
The 22% rate (down from 24% pre-2021) sits mid-table for the EU, but distribution is cheap: dividend withholding is only 5%, so a fully distributed euro of profit reaches a resident individual at a combined ~25.9%. An EU-style participation exemption frees dividends and capital gains from qualifying subsidiaries (≥10% held for 24 months), making Greek holding companies workable. Withholding taxes: dividends 5%, interest 15%, royalties 20% — 0% intra-EU under the Parent-Subsidiary and Interest-Royalties Directives, and treaty relief across 57 double-tax treaties. Losses carry forward five years. Greece’s storied shipping regime taxes vessels on tonnage rather than profits — constitutionally protected and the reason Piraeus remains a maritime capital.
Social security and health contributions
| Contribution | Employee | Employer | Self-employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| EFKA (pension, health, ancillary) | 13.37% | 21.79% | Fixed monthly classes, from roughly €250 (~$285) — confirm current class amounts |
| Total on salary | 13.37% | 21.79% | Chosen class, not income-linked |
Contributions apply to gross salary up to a ceiling of €7,761.94 (~$8,850) a month (from 1 January 2026) — beyond that, marginal labour cost is just income tax, which caps the pain for six-figure salaries. Total wedge is 35.16%, already several points below its pre-2020 level after successive cuts. The self-employed pick one of a handful of fixed insurance classes rather than paying a percentage of profits — a structural bargain for high earners — and the classes are indexed annually.
Indirect Taxes
As an EU member Greece applies the EU VAT Directive; VAT is the main indirect tax and a chronic enforcement battleground, which is why e-invoicing (myDATA) and card-payment mandates keep tightening.
Value-added tax (VAT)
| Rate | Applies to (examples) |
|---|---|
| 24% (standard) | Most goods and services |
| 13% (reduced) | Food, water, hotels, care services |
| 6% (super-reduced) | Medicines, books, newspapers, theatre tickets |
| Island rates | 30% lower (17%/9%/4%) on qualifying small Aegean islands — extended to 24 more islands from January 2026 |
| 0% (zero) | Exports, intra-EU supplies, international transport |
VAT on new-building sales remains suspended through 2026 (buyers pay 3.09% transfer tax instead of 24% VAT) — a repeatedly-extended relief worth checking before any off-plan purchase.
Excise and other indirect taxes
| Tax | Notes |
|---|---|
| Excise duties | EU-level duties on fuel, tobacco, alcohol; among the EU’s higher tobacco burdens |
| Real-estate transfer tax | 3.09% of the higher of price or objective (cadastral) value |
| Digital transaction fee | Replaced stamp duty from 1 December 2024 — 0.30%–3.60% on select transactions (e.g. private loans) |
| Listed-share sales tax | 0.1% (1‰) on Athens Exchange disposals |
Other Taxes Worth Knowing
| Tax | Greece treatment |
|---|---|
| Capital gains tax — securities | 15% flat; gains on listed shares exempt if the seller holds under 0.5% of the company (only the 0.1% sales tax applies) |
| Capital gains tax — real estate | 15% on paper, but suspended until 31 December 2026 — individual sellers currently pay nothing |
| Dividends (resident individual) | 5% final withholding — one of the EU’s lowest |
| Interest (resident individual) | 15% final withholding |
| Rental income | Progressive: 15% to €12,000 (~$13,700), 25% (new 2026) to €24,000 (~$27,400), 35% to €36,000 (~$41,000), 45% above; 3-year full exemption for vacant homes or short-term-to-long-term conversions rented out by 31 December 2026 |
| Wealth / net worth tax | None |
| Inheritance / estate tax | Close family (Category A): €150,000 (~$171,000) tax-free, then 1%–10%; unrelated heirs up to 40% |
| Gift tax | Parental gifts and close-family gifts: €800,000 (~$910,000) tax-free per donor (since October 2021), 10% flat above |
| Immovable property tax (annual) | ENFIA, computed on cadastral values — a few hundred euros a year for a typical apartment; discounts for insured homes |
The investment-income picture is quietly excellent: 5% dividends, 15% interest and gains, listed-share gains effectively tax-free for portfolio investors, and property gains untaxed while the suspension holds. Inheritance planning is equally generous in the direct line — a couple can pass €1.6 million (~$1.8m) to each child tax-free through lifetime parental gifts. The scale rates only really bite on salaries, pensions and business profits — precisely the incomes the non-dom regimes are designed to shelter.
Disadvantages & Risks
Greece’s weaknesses are administrative and structural rather than fiscal. Bureaucracy remains the top complaint — permits, land registry gaps, and courts that take years, even as myAADE digitises filings. Public debt near 150% of GDP constrains future tax cuts, and the memory of 2015 capital controls (lifted 2019) still colours banking perceptions, though banks are recapitalised and the sovereign is investment-grade again. The economy leans on tourism and shipping, making revenues cyclical; the demographic decline is among Europe’s steepest. Geopolitically, periodic tensions with Turkey over the Aegean flare and fade, and the neighbourhood (Balkans, Eastern Mediterranean) adds background noise without threatening EU/NATO anchoring. Greece appears on no FATF or EU lists — it is a mainstream EU jurisdiction, fully inside CRS, DAC6 and Pillar Two.
The fiscal risks are targeted ones. The real-estate CGT suspension is temporary — legislated only through 31 December 2026, and its lapse would add 15% to exit costs. ENFIA history shows property taxes can be recalibrated when budgets tighten. The self-employed minimum deemed income presumes profits at least equal to a multiple of the minimum wage, catching genuinely low-earning freelancers. And the non-dom regimes, while statutory, carry political risk EU-wide — Portugal’s NHR and the UK’s non-dom abolition show how fast such regimes can close to new entrants. Enter while the door is open; those already admitted keep their full term.
Strategy & Ideal Profile
The clean structure is one of the three inbound regimes plus flat-rate investment income. Article 5A non-dom: invest €500,000 (~$570,000) in Greek real estate, securities or business within three years (a golden-visa investment counts), then pay a flat €100,000 (~$114,000) a year covering all foreign income and gains — no Greek reporting of foreign assets, no inheritance/gift tax on foreign property, 15 years, plus €20,000 (~$22,800) per family member added. It beats Italy’s €200,000 (~$228,000) equivalent on price. Article 5B: foreign pensioners pay 7% flat on all foreign-source income — not just pensions — for 15 years. Article 5C: relocating employees and entrepreneurs get 50% of Greek employment or business income exempt for 7 years, turning the new top rates into an effective ~22% ceiling. Ordinary residents structure via a 22% company distributing at 5%, and hold portfolios directly for 5%/15% flat rates and exempt listed gains.
Who it suits: retirees — 7% on everything foreign for 15 years, plus Mediterranean living costs, is arguably Europe’s best pensioner deal; HNW investors and family offices — 5A converts unlimited foreign income into a fixed ~€100k (~$114,000) ticket and pairs naturally with the €250,000–800,000 (~$285,000–912,000) golden-visa tiers; relocating professionals and remote employees — 5C halves the bill on Greek salaries; property investors — the new 25% rental band, the 3-year exemption for re-activated homes and the CGT suspension reward buying and holding now. Residency is the standard 183-day test; the special regimes each require you to have been non-resident for most of the preceding years (five of six for 5A/5B, five of six for 5C) — they are for genuine newcomers.
Who it does not suit: high earners on Greek-source income without 5C, who hit 44% at €60,000 (~$68,400) plus 35.16% social wedge below the cap; the modestly self-employed, squeezed by deemed-income floors; and anyone whose plan depends on the property-CGT suspension or non-dom regimes surviving unchanged for decades — the 15-year clocks are statutory, but new-entrant terms can and do change.
FAQ
Is Greece a tax haven?
No. Greece is a mainstream EU/eurozone member with worldwide taxation, 24% VAT and full CRS/DAC6 transparency, on no blacklists. What it offers is a set of statutory inbound regimes — a €100,000 (~$114,000) non-dom flat tax, a 7% pensioner rate, a 50% professional exemption — alongside low flat rates on investment income (5% dividends, 15% gains).
What is the corporate tax rate in Greece in 2026?
22% for most companies (29% for credit institutions), unchanged since 2021. With dividend withholding at 5%, fully distributed profits reach individual shareholders at a combined rate of about 25.9%. Groups with revenue of €750 million (~$855m) or more fall under the 15% Pillar Two minimum tax (Law 5100/2024).
How does the Greek non-dom regime work?
Under Article 5A, a new resident who was non-resident in five of the last six years and invests €500,000 (~$570,000) in Greece within three years pays a flat €100,000 (~$114,000) annually, covering all foreign-source income and gains — with no obligation to declare foreign assets and no Greek inheritance or gift tax on assets abroad. It lasts up to 15 years; each family member added costs €20,000 (~$22,800).
What is the 7% pension regime in Greece?
Foreign pensioners who move their tax residence to Greece (non-resident five of the last six years, from a country with a tax-cooperation agreement) pay a flat 7% on all foreign-source income — pensions, dividends, interest, gains — for 15 years, filing a single annual return.
Does Greece tax capital gains?
Securities gains are taxed at a flat 15%, but gains on listed shares are exempt where the seller holds under 0.5% of the company — most portfolio investors pay only the 0.1% sales tax. Capital gains tax on real estate (15%) is suspended until 31 December 2026, so individual property sellers currently pay none.
Is there inheritance or wealth tax in Greece?
There is no wealth tax. Inheritance tax for close family starts only above €150,000 (~$171,000) at 1%–10%, and lifetime parental gifts are tax-free up to €800,000 (~$910,000) per donor per child, taxed at just 10% beyond. Distant or unrelated heirs face rates up to 40%. Non-dom (5A) taxpayers pay no Greek inheritance or gift tax on foreign assets.
How are dividends taxed for a Greek tax resident?
At a flat 5% withholding — among the lowest in the EU — whether the payer is Greek or foreign (foreign dividends are declared and taxed at the same 5%, with treaty credit for foreign withholding). For 5A non-doms, foreign dividends are simply covered by the €100,000 (~$114,000) flat payment; for 5B pensioners they fall under the 7%.
Sources
All figures should be checked against the primary government sources below. Only official government bodies are listed here.
- Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE) — income tax, VAT, ENFIA, transfer and inheritance/gift taxes — aade.gr
- Ministry of Economy and Finance — Law 5246/2025 reform, tax policy guides — minfin.gov.gr
- e-EFKA (National Social Security Fund) — contribution rates, ceilings and insurance classes — efka.gov.gr
- Enterprise Greece / Migration Ministry — golden visa investment tiers and residence permits — enterprisegreece.gov.gr
- Bank of Greece / ECB — exchange rate used for USD conversions — bankofgreece.gr
USD figures are indicative conversions at ~1 EUR = 1.14 USD (ECB reference rate, July 2026) and rounded.
Last verified: 26 July 2026.
This is general information, not personal tax or legal advice. Tax outcomes depend on your specific facts; consult a qualified Greek tax adviser before acting.
Related guides: Andorra · Argentina · Australia · Bahamas · Botswana · Bulgaria · Costa Rica · Cyprus · Dominican Republic · Estonia · Georgia · Gibraltar · Indonesia · Italy · Jersey · Kuwait · Malta · Mauritius · Monaco · Montenegro · Morocco · New Zealand · Panama · Paraguay · Seychelles · Singapore · South Korea · Taiwan · Thailand · Ticino · UAE · Uruguay