Real estate for debts is going under the hammer again: ΑΑΔΕ is pushing debtors to pay in installments for 72 installments

From September 16 ΑΑΔΕ launches a new wave electronic real estate auctions for tax debtswhile increasing pressure on debtors to take advantage of the new debt repayment scheme of up to 72 monthly installments.

We are talking about real estate, land plots, agricultural land, warehouses and industrial facilities that will be exhibited through the system e-auction.

According to the data provided Οικονομικός Ταχυδρόμοςoverdue debts to the state already exceed €114 billionand more 2.5 million taxpayers are potentially subject to enforcement measures – from blocking bank accounts to seizure of property and its sale.

From September 16 – a new wave of auctions

The list of properties planned for sale includes warehouses, plots, agricultural land and industrial sites in Attica, Mykonos, Drama, Thessaloniki, Chania and Chalkidiki.

Starting prices differ tens and hundreds of times: from approx. €1000 for the cheapest properties up to €1.47 million for the most expensive ones.

Among the already planned auctions, in particular:

• plot of 183.60 sq. m with a multi-storey building in Neos-Kosmos – starting price approx. €1.247 million;
• plot of 487 sq. m with a maisonette in Magula, Attica – €433 thousand;
• a plot of about 5.8 thousand square meters. m in the Kalo Livadi area of ​​Mykonos – €533 thousand.

Athens News has already reported on previous waves of tax auctions and how ΑΑΔΕ is gradually increasing enforcement of debt collection. Now this policy receives another important element – a new opportunity to settle old debts in installments.

An auction is not only a way to get money

Formally, the sale of real estate remains one of the last resort measures.

In practice, the very threat of loss of property is used as a powerful tool of pressure on the debtor.

The goal is simple: to force the debt owner to either pay the debt or enter into an active settlement scheme before the property finally goes under the hammer.

New installment plan – up to 72 payments

From July 2026, a new special scheme for settling old tax debts has been in force – up to 72 monthly payments.

Its legal basis is enshrined in Article 19 of the law No. 5313/2026and the technical conditions are determined by the solution ΑΑΔΕ A.1141/14.07.2026. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

The scheme applies to individuals and legal entities with relevant debts to the tax administration.

The application is submitted electronically via myAADE. ΑΑΔΕ itself officially announced on July 18 the opening of a platform for regulating debts in 72 payments. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

According to Greek media, you can use the special window until December 31, 2026and the scheme is activated after timely payment of the first established amount.

So far, interest remains relatively small: according to available data, about 11 thousand debtors.

Why ΑΑΔΕ rushes debtors

For the tax administration the problem is huge.

The volume of overdue obligations is already measured at more than €114 billion, but a significant part of these amounts is extremely difficult to collect or is practically hopeless.

Therefore, ΑΑΔΕ tries to work in two directions simultaneously:

• propose a voluntary settlement mechanism;
• show that in case of inaction, coercive measures will actually be applied.

Real estate auctions in this system are the most visible, but far from the most common tool.

In practice, much more often ΑΑΔΕ uses collection from third parties — first of all, blocking and debiting funds from bank accounts, which can be carried out automatically.

The account freeze can also be removed – but not for free

In 2026, another mechanism appeared for debtors whose bank accounts had already been frozen.

Solution ΑΑΔΕ A.1145/14.07.2026 allows, under certain conditions, to achieve the lifting of the arrest.

To do this, among other things, it is necessary to repay an amount corresponding to at least 25% debtdue to which the arrest was imposed, and the remaining part can be legally settled – for example, through installments. Other outstanding debts must also be repaid or settled. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}

This shows the general logic of the current policy: ΑΑΔΕ is ready to weaken compulsory measures if the debtor begins to actually pay.

Is it possible to avoid selling real estate?

Even after property is seized, the situation is not always hopeless.

In July, ΑΑΔΕ separately regulated the procedure for lifting the seizure of real estate during its voluntary sale.

According to the decision A.1158/28.07.2026the release of the object is possible if a number of conditions are met, including the notary’s withholding in favor of the tax authorities of at least part of the debt – in certain cases, at least 25% of its current balance. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}

In other words, even if the object has already been seized, it is sometimes more profitable for the debtor to sell it on the market and settle the debt than to wait for a forced auction.

What about the only place to live?

It is especially important here not to create a false sense of complete protection.

In Greece there is no general rule according to which any “first home” is automatically and unconditionally protected from all tax penalties.

Protection depends on the specific procedure, the legal status of the debtor, the possible application of mechanisms for vulnerable households and other conditions.

Therefore, it is dangerous for a property owner who has received a notice of seizure or auction to proceed from the formula “this is my only home, which means it will not be touched.”

At this stage, it makes sense to contact an accountant or lawyer and check the possibility of settling the debt before the sale date.

Buyers should be careful too

For the other side of the market – buyers – the new wave of e-auctions may look like an opportunity to purchase an object for much less than its usual market price.

But the starting price in itself does not guarantee anything.

Before participating in an electronic auction, you must check:

• what kind of property right is being sold;
• cadastral data of the object;
• presence of other encumbrances;
• actual condition of the property;
• presence of tenants or residents;
• technical and urban planning violations.

We discussed this procedure in detail in the practical series of the Athens News about electronic real estate auctions in Greece.

Official information about the 72 payment scheme is available on the website ΑΑΔΕ.

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