April 24, 2024

Athens News

News in English from Greece

We work for half a year to pay taxes

The Greeks have to work a little less than half a day to cover their obligations to the tax authorities.

Every year for the past five years, research has been carried out in Greece to measure the tax “wounds” inflicted on the Greek population. Have you ever wondered how many days a year we Greek taxpayers work to pay government taxes? This year ΚΕΦΚΕ (Το Κέντρο Φιλελεύθερων Μελετών “Μάρκος Δραγούμης”), celebrating Tax Freedom Day on June 29 ((μέρα Φορολογικής Ελευθερίας.

Every year for the past five years, research has been carried out in Greece to measure the tax “wounds” inflicted on the Greek population. Have you ever wondered how many days a year we Greek taxpayers work to pay government taxes? This year, ΚΕΦίΜ (Το Κέντρο Φιλελεύθερων Μελετών “Μάρκος Δραγούμης”), celebrating Tax Freedom Day on June 29 (Ημέρα Φορολογικής Ελευθερίαί.

According to the researchers of the Center, if we first had to pay all taxes and fees, then June 29 will be exactly the day from which we can start using our own earned funds (income), since the previous six months of work (!) Will only take to pay taxes.

According to a study by the Marcos Dragoumis Center (ΚΕΦίΜ), citizens of our country who want to be “good taxpayers“Should work 179 days out of 365.

In particular, in 2021, the average Greek had to work 75 days to pay indirect taxes, 60 days to pay insurance premiums, 43 days to pay direct taxes, and one day to pay capital tax.

According to a statistical study, in 2019 Greece is recognized as one of the seven countries with the highest taxes and insurance premiums (12 days more than the average you have to work to pay taxes). In addition, the country recorded a lower degree of trust in the government compared to the average for 2020 (11% below the average) among 23 European countries where a similar survey was conducted.

Along with Greece, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Italy, Belgium and France are in the group with the least confidence in the government and the largest number of working days for the state. Ireland and Switzerland are among the countries with the highest level of government trust and the fewest working days “benefiting” the government.

In the memorandum years, excessive taxation brought households to their knees. Of the 147 working days that the average Greek had to work in 2009 to pay taxes and fees, in 2018 he had to work 186 days to pay the state in full.

186 working days in 2018 were reduced to 175 in 2020 and to 179 in 2021. However, this decline is due to low tax collection, not to cuts in government spending. The persistent restrictions have resulted in a reduction in tax revenues while increasing government aid, with the result that, if the general government deficit is included, 2021 will be the year with the most workforce days (221) since 2013.

The Φ study shows the following: the total burden on citizens and businesses from taxes and insurance premiums in 2021 will amount to 71.9 billion, which is almost double the amount paid by households to meet their basic needs.

For twenty years, from 1999 to 2018, 47 working days have been added for obligations to the state. In 1999, we worked 139 days, in 2012 – 174 days, and in 2018 we reached 186 working days to pay taxes and fees. In the period 2019-2020, the first significant decrease of 11 days in the last twenty years was recorded, and in 2021 – an increase of four days.

According to the researchers of the Center, if we first had to pay all taxes and fees, then June 29 will be exactly the day from which we can start using our own earned funds (income), since the previous six months of work (!) Will only take to pay taxes.





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