AAΔΕ begins a summer “safari” of checks: islands and tourism are under attack

AAΔΕ begins a large-scale summer “safari” of inspections against tax evasion. Targeted at islands, resorts, restaurants, bars and tourism businesses.

More than 50,000 checks on islands and in high demand tourist destinations. Particular attention will be paid to enterprises that operate during the summer season with a large cash turnover and a high risk of checks being bounced.

Inspections focus on:

• restaurants;
• bars;
• cafe;
• retail;
• tourist sites;
• enterprises with high seasonal revenue.

AI, tablets and drones

New strategy AAΔΕ based on risk analysis and the use of digital tools. Algorithms are in motion artificial intelligencedata from electronic systems, maps, online profiles of enterprises, mobile devices of inspectors and, where required, drones.

Coordination of raids will take place in real time from the operations room AAΔΕwhere data, photographs and video materials from inspection sites will be received.

That is, the summer season for part of the business will look something like this: tourists with cameras, the tax office with tablets, a drone on top, and somewhere in the server algorithm it decides who was trading too merrily today without receipts. Progress, as usual, did not come with flowers.

How will targets be selected?

Checks will be carried out on the basis risk analysis. Algorithmic models will identify enterprises with increased signs of violations – primarily in the areas of catering, bars and retail trade.

Particular attention will be paid to:

• non-issuance of checks;
• understatement of turnover;
• non-transfer of data to myDATA;
• non-payment VAT;
• discrepancies between purchases, sales and reported revenue.

Unannounced on-site inspections are also planned. In some cases, inspectors will act as ordinary customers to check whether the business is issuing a receipt and is operating POS in conjunction with systems AAΔΕ.

System “ΕΛΕΓΧΟΣLive”

At the center of the summer campaign is the system “ΕΛΕΓΧΟΣLive”. With its help, inspectors through portable devices and online access to databases AAΔΕ will be able to check:

• whether the checks issued are genuine;
• what revenue the company declared before the inspectors’ visit;
• whether check and invoice data were transmitted to myDATA;
• who are the company’s suppliers;
• at what prices the goods were purchased;
• What margin does the company operate on?

In addition, inspectors will see the enterprise’s past history of violations: cases of smuggling, fictitious documents, non-payment of VAT, excise taxes and income taxes, as well as tax debts while maintaining high daily revenues.

Fines and business closure

After the inspection, inspectors will draw up an official document with the results, which is transferred to the inspected enterprise. Sanctions and fines will be applied based on identified violations.

Among the measures:

• closing for 48 hours – if more than 10 checks are not issued or incorrectly issued, or if the cost of goods or services without documents exceeds 500 euros;
• closing for 96 hours – in case of repeated violation with at least 3 documents in the same or next tax year;
• closure for 10 days — in case of new non-issuance or incorrect issuance of at least 3 documents within two tax years;
• 10 more days – in case of violation of the already imposed closure regime, that is, in case of “breaking the seal”.

Editorial comment

Summer safari AAΔΕ shows that the state is increasingly turning tax control into a technological operation. Previously, the inspector came with a folder. Now he comes with a tablet, databases, an algorithm on his back and, if necessary, a drone overhead. Welcome to digital Greece, where the check may not be issued, but the video is most likely already recorded.

On the one hand, it is really necessary to combat non-issuance of checks and VAT evasion. An honest business pays taxes, works through POS, transfers data to myDATA and ultimately competes with those who sell “black” and gain an unfair advantage.

On the other hand, the very intensity of control shows another problem: a significant part of the economy is still based on seasonal income, cash, a high tax burden and the eternal game of “who can outwit whom.” The state catches business, business hides from the state, and then both sides pretend that this is a normal model of a mature European economy.

It’s especially interesting that the tax office now uses almost military logic: a war room, risk analysis, digital traces, drones, real-time raids. The enemy, apparently, is a tavern without a receipt and a beach bar with a suspiciously cheerful cash register.

But the main question remains the same: will these checks be equally tough for everyone, or will there again be a selective show campaign, where small businesses get a seal on the door, and large and well-protected players somehow miraculously pass between the drops.

Conclusion: if summer campaign AAΔΕ will really hit the systemic tax evasion, it could be a step towards a fairer market. But if everything comes down to beautiful raids, drones and press releases, then this will not be a reform, but another seasonal performance: the state pretends to control everything, business pretends to be scared, and the taxpayer again pays for tickets to this show.

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