Throughout the tourist season, tourism businesses, whether they are hotels, catering or operating beaches, will find themselves in a double stranglehold of control. The checks will include both fiscal and compliance checks on existing and new concessions on the coastline and beaches.
The Ministry of National Economy and Finance says it now has the necessary arsenal to ensure that the law is upheld and to strengthen the sense of justice in all directions.
In the tax sector, since this year there are already various tools such as MyDATA, the interconnection of cash registers with POS and others, which have strengthened the quiver of the AADE's auditors. These tools promise spectacular results and increased public revenues through improved tax oversight.
As regards the seashore sector, the new procedure for concessions is in full swing, which is now being carried out exclusively through the dedicated digital platform (https://eauctions.gsis.gr). By Friday 31 May, all the electronic auctions for over 1,200 concessions had been posted.
At the same time, there are also 6,500 active contracts as well as high protection beaches, also known as “inaccessible beaches”, located in Natura areas, where the concession and consequently the placement of umbrellas, sunbeds, etc. is prohibited. All beaches, whether new or existing concessions, will from this year be subject to the same regulations and the same framework of controls and fines for possible infringements.
The new picture will be fully in place by the end of June, when the relevant procedures for the installation of the new concessionaires are expected to be completed.
The auditors of the Hellenic Audit Office of the Hellenic Revenue Service (ADEA) arrive
Thousands of seasonal businesses operating during the tourist season will be targeted by the tax control mechanism. For the first time this year, tax will be imposed in advance on those suspected of tax evasion. This decision has been taken because a number of them in previous years started their operations by faithfully fulfilling their obligations and then disappeared, leaving unpaid taxes and VAT unpaid.
At the same time, the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (Hellenic Revenue Authority) starts implementing the new Audit Plan in islands and tourist destinations. Equipped with tablets and portable scanners, the AADE auditors carry out “double” on-site inspections.
Precisely, this procedure means that auditors have access to the profile of the audited companies and cross-check the data reported in their tax return with the actual data resulting from the operation of the company. In addition, the intermediate tax is a new measure provided for in the new Code of Tax Procedure. This gives the AADE the possibility to impose an advance tax in cases where tax evasion is suspected. Importantly, this imposition takes place even before the tax return is submitted.
The controls carried out by the Hellenic Revenue Service on islands and tourist destinations are structured on two levels. Initially, a first visit is made by officials of the AADE, followed by a second visit by auditors from a different region. Finally, the Public Revenue Control and Assurance Service (PSI) undertakes the audit based on all the information gathered from the previous visits, reinforcing the audits with a targeted approach.
The myData system plays an important role in the verification process. This enables the comparison of this year's and last year's business activity, allowing data to be transmitted to the competent authorities for further analysis and checks. In addition, the algorithms search for information on the assets of the auditees, including deposits and real estate, providing a comprehensive picture of their tax situation.
These controls are a crucial part of tax policy, as they contribute to effective tax enforcement and the elimination of tax evasion. Through these controls, tax justice is strengthened, as citizens and businesses must comply with tax laws and fulfil their obligations. The revenues generated by these audits help to support public services and the development of the country, thus helping to maintain and improve social and economic prosperity.
Aegean Sea - Beaches
The controls that started in Halkidiki, with the use of drones, represent an important step towards the strengthening of beach surveillance and the implementation of the new rules enacted by the Ministry of Economy and Finance. With these controls, the government seeks to ensure free access of citizens to beaches, protect the environment and improve the quality of the tourism product.
The use of drones allows effective monitoring of beaches and rapid detection of possible infringements. The information gathered from these checks can be used to take action and impose sanctions in cases of breaches of the new rules.
In addition, conducting procedures for new beach and coastal concessions under the new framework provides the opportunity to adequately regulate the use of the coastal protection zone and to ensure that beaches are managed in a transparent and respectful manner for the environment and citizens. These initiatives are essential for improving the tourist experience and protecting the country's natural resources.
The implementation of various forms of control, in addition to the use of drones, is an important part of the new strategy to ensure legality and transparency in the use of beaches and the seashore. Let us take a closer look at these ways:
1. Satellite images: The use of satellite imagery allows large areas to be monitored and potential infringements to be detected with a high degree of accuracy. This information can then be used for additional checks and evaluations.
2. Citizens' contribution: The MyCoast application enables citizens to contribute to the monitoring and detection of infringements. Through this application, they can submit complaints about infringements they observe on the beaches.
3. Mixed control teams: An integrated audit mechanism is created by integrating several agencies. This ensures cooperation and coordination between different agencies and authorities to effectively supervise the use of beaches. The control procedures include inspection and assessment of compliance with new regulations and contracts, thus providing an integrated control framework and providing the necessary transparency and legitimacy in the management of beaches and the coastline.
Thanasis Papadis
