AAΔΕ found more than 5,800 violations in car services and transportation: a digital customer log brought the business “to the light”

Greek Tax Authority AAΔΕ strengthens control over enterprises, related to cars and transportationusing data from the Digital Customer Log.

At the end of 2025, inspections showed a high level of violations: out of 949 targeted inspections, violations were found in 505 companies, or in 53.2% of cases.

We are talking about car services, workshops, car washes, body services, companies selling cars and spare parts, parking lots, as well as ground transport enterprises. Total identified 5,882 violationsincluding bounced checks, unissued or incorrectly completed documents, and other violations of tax laws.

The main thing is several points

• In 2025, AAΔΕ carried out 949 targeted inspections in the automotive and transport sectors.
• Violations were detected in 505 companies, that is, in 53.2% of audited cases.
• A total of 5,882 tax violations were recorded.
• 1,095 violations involved failure to submit checks to the system.
• 1,026 cases involved non-issuance or incorrect execution of checks and invoices.
• The hidden cost of operations exceeded €100 thousand.
• Four businesses were temporarily closed: two in the automotive sector and two in the ground transportation sector.
• In 2026, AAΔΕ has already carried out 1,145 new inspections, violations were found in 693 companies, giving an average of 60.5%.

What is a Digital Customer Journal

Digital customer magazine, Ψηφιακό Πελατολόγιοworks through the myDATA platform. Businesses must record customer information and match those records with the tax documents issued.

For the tax office, this means the ability to compare: whether there was a client, whether a service was provided, whether a check was issued, whether it was transferred to the system, and whether the actual activities of the company coincide with what is reflected in the reporting.

Whereas previously some transactions might have disappeared between the garage, the cash register and the words “cash without receipt,” now the digital footprint remains much more visible. Not magic, of course, just another case where a paper notebook turned out to be less convincing than a database.

What violations did AAΔΕ reveal?

According to the tax service, during audits for 2025 the following were recorded:

• 1,095 cases of non-transfer of checks and other documents to the digital system;
• 1,026 cases of non-issuance or incorrect execution of checks and invoices;
• 4 cases of failure to present documents to inspectors;
• 3,753 other tax violations.

The total hidden cost of transactions exceeded €100 thousand. Moreover, the figure reflects only what was able to be established within the framework of specific targeted inspections, and not the entire volume of possible shadow activity in the sector.

Who was checked

AAΔΕ came to the attention of enterprises related to automobile and transport infrastructure:

• repair and maintenance of cars and motorcycles;
• sale of cars, motorcycles and spare parts;
• car washes;
• body and paint shops;
• parking;
• ground transportation companies;
• other services serving the transport sector.

It is these industries that are considered high-risk areas: many small transactions, cash payments, urgent services, “paperless” repair work and customers for whom it is sometimes more important to quickly pick up the car than to argue about a check.

Four businesses were temporarily closed

In addition to fines, AAΔΕ also applied more stringent measures. The temporary suspension of work affected four enterprises.

Two cases related to wholesale and retail trade, as well as the repair of cars and motorcycles. Two more closures were applied to ground transportation.

Suspension of work for such a business is more painful than a regular fine. When a car wash, service, carrier or parking lot is closed for several days, not only money is lost, but also customers who quickly find an alternative and rarely return from a romantic attachment to the old garage.

In 2026, the figures became even higher

AAΔΕ reports that digital data will continue to be used in 2026. Since the beginning of the year it has already been carried out 1,145 checks in the automotive and transport sector.

Violations were detected in 693 cases, and the average violation rate was 60.5%. That is, compared to 2025, the proportion of companies where inspectors found problems has increased.

In particular, current inspections revealed:

• 2,552 violations in the field of repair and maintenance of cars and motorcycles;
• 3,474 violations in transportation-related activities;
• 91 violations in the retail trade of cars and spare parts.

Why AAΔΕ is betting on digital control

A digital customer log allows the tax office not to check everyone, but to select companies where the data looks suspicious. For example, if there are clients in the system, but there are no corresponding receipts, if the number of services does not match the turnover, or if documents are transmitted with delays and errors.

This changes the control logic. The inspector no longer comes at random in the hope of catching someone at the cash register. First, the system finds a discrepancy, then the company comes to check.

AAΔΕ is also developing data analytics tools by linking digital receipts, POS terminals, e-way bills and myDATA data. The goal is simple: to make tax evasion not impossible, but noticeably more risky.

Editorial comment

The figure of 53.2% for 2025 and 60.5% in current inspections does not indicate isolated violations, but a habit. In business, a check is still perceived not as a mandatory document, but as an optional addition to the service that can be issued if the client asks too persistently.

Car services, car washes, carriers and parking lots are especially convenient for shady schemes: the work is often urgent, payment is in cash, the client is in a hurry, the amount seems small. From dozens of such “little things” a system is put together in which the state receives less taxes, and honest businesses are forced to compete with those who can artificially keep prices lower due to unaccounted turnover.

A digital customer log will not solve the problem on its own. But it does the main thing: it deprives some entrepreneurs of the opportunity to pretend that there was a client, there was a service, there was money, but for some reason the document did not exist.

And here the issue is not only about fines. While a conscientious service pays taxes, rent, salaries and issues checks, its neighbor can dump because part of the work simply does not pass through the system. In such a situation, digital control becomes not “pressure on small businesses,” but an attempt to at least slightly level the playing field.

Sources: AAΔΕ: results of checks via the Digital Customer Log, AAΔΕ: description of the work of the Digital Customer Journal.

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