Property declarations in Greece: who will be checked and what will they be punished for?

“Πόθεν Έσχες” (declaration of property status) Politicians, officials, judges, security officials and a number of private sector workers are required to submit. The declaration indicates income, real estate, accounts, securities and property.

In Greece declaration of wealthknown as “Πόθεν Έσχες”is mandatory for a wide range of people: from politicians and officials to judges, security officials, representatives of local government, journalists, media owners and certain categories of private sector workers. The purpose of the system is to control the property of persons holding responsible positions or having access to public money and influence.

Filing a declaration is regulated by law 5026/2023. Official platform pothen.gr used for electronic registration of declarations of property status and declarations of economic interests. Login using codes TAXISnet. The bureaucracy, of course, has become digital, but this has not made it any less hungry for detail.

Who is required to submit “Πόθεν Έσχες”

The declaration is required to be submitted by persons holding positions related to political responsibility, public administration, control, finance, justice, security and certain areas of the private sector.

• In the public sector: political persons, general and special secretaries, heads of local governments, as well as civil servants holding positions with control, financial or managerial powers.
• In justice and law enforcement agencies: judges, prosecutors, members Νομικό Συμβούλιο του Κράτους (State Legal Council)as well as management Ελληνική Αστυνομία (Greek police, ΕΛΑΣ)armed forces and other law enforcement agencies.
• In the private sector: persons occupying key positions in the financial sector, owners and managers of media outlets, journalists, as well as persons managing sports federations or working in certain regulated areas.

Official clarifications on pothen.gr clarify that the initial declaration must be submitted within 90 calendar days after the obligation occurs. For certain categories, such as members of public procurement commissions, special rules apply, including obligations for deputies if they actually participated in meetings.

What is indicated in the declaration

The declaration of property status indicates not only income, but also almost all the main elements of property, which make it possible to assess where a person got his money and assets.

• income from all sources;
• real estate and real rights to it;
• stocks, bonds and other securities;
• bank deposits in Greece and abroad;
• safe deposit boxes and the right to rent them;
• vehicles: cars, motorcycles, ships, aircraft;
• new acquisitions indicating the method of purchase, cost and supporting documents.

New assets must be declared accurately: it is important to indicate not only the fact of ownership, but also the method of acquisition, cost and documents confirming the origin of the funds. The idea is simple: the state wants to see not only “what is”but also “where did it come from”. This is where sudden memory loss usually begins for some.

When and how to submit a declaration

Submission is carried out electronically via www.pothen.gr. As stated on the platform gov.grthe initial declaration is submitted within 90 calendar days from the moment established by law after receiving the status of an obligated person.

For annual lists of obligated persons in 2026, separate deadlines apply. According to Taxheavenelectronic submission of annual lists for 2026, that is, for the use of 2025, has begun for the relevant authorities March 2, 2026 and ended March 31, 2026.

The system provides not only a declaration of property status Δήλωση Περιουσιακής Κατάστασης (DPK)but also a declaration of economic interests Δήλωση Οικονομικών Συμφερόντων (DOS). The second helps to identify possible conflicts of interest, participation in companies, professional connections and other circumstances that may influence career decisions.

What sanctions are provided?

If the return is filed late, the obligated person must pay a special fee. According to Greek publications, citing current rules, the amount can reach approximately 400 euros depending on the duration of the delay.

If the declaration is not submitted at all, control procedures provided for by law are launched. Disciplinary measures, property checks, transfer of materials to competent authorities and more serious consequences are possible. In some cases, the matter may lead to criminal liability, confiscation of property or imprisonment.

It is important that liability may arise not only for the complete absence of a declaration, but also for incomplete, inaccurate or false information. You can’t just forget an account, real estate, share in a company, or a new asset in your declaration, and then be pleasantly surprised that the state noticed. Although, of course, there are attempts. Humanity stubbornly believes in the magic of the word “forgot.”

Why is this important

System “Πόθεν Έσχες” should be an instrument of transparency: the public has the right to know how the property of people who make decisions, manage money, control others or influence public life changes. This especially applies to politicians, officials, judges, security officials and representatives of structures associated with government contracts and public trust.

But the effectiveness of the system depends not only on the obligation to file a declaration. The main thing is a real check. If declarations are simply put into a digital folder, this is not control, but an imitation of control. If the data is compared with tax information, banking movements, transactions and lifestyle, then “Πόθεν Έσχες” becomes an unpleasant but useful tool.

Editorial comment

“Πόθεν Έσχες” – the right idea in a country where questions about the origin of property among public figures often sound much more interesting than their official biographies. But the declaration itself does not mean transparency. Everything is decided by checking: who is looking, how they are looking, and whether they want to see at all.

For citizens, the system looks strict: didn’t file, was late, made a mistake – get sanctions. For politicians and officials, it must work no less strictly. Otherwise, you will end up with the usual Greek classics: the people are obliged to explain every euro, and the powers that be continue to live in the genre “this is family savings, you don’t understand”.

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