AADE: Extension of deadlines for tax returns

Extension until 4 February, the Ministry of Finance and the Hellenic Revenue Service gave the deadlines for tax returns expiring between 24 and 31 January 2022, with a view to facilitating the taxpayers and of businesses, resident or established in the areas affected by severe weather events.

The new deadlines concern:

• The submission of VAT returns and recapitulative statements.

• The submission of all kinds of returns of withheld income tax and solidarity tax.

• The lodging of an appeal and a request for suspension before the Dispute Resolution Division of the Hellenic Revenue Authority.

It seems that the extensions announced the day before yesterday are not enough to solve all the problems created by the snowstorm. Until the day before yesterday, it was announced that additional time would be given for the submission of applications for the granting of heating oil, for the drawing up of contracts for the transfer of property at the old property values and for the submission of applications for the settlement of arrears accumulated during the pandemic.

But the market was asking for an extension for all tax returns to be submitted by the end of the month -as according to all indications the operation of the market will begin to normalize from Friday when the ice will melt- suspension of the auctions of the next two days and extension of the engineering certificate to go further back even for two months the electronic building identity card.

The last working day of January, except for a payment deadline of income tax, of ENFIA and social security contributions, is also the last deadline for submitting VAT returns (fourth quarter or December for companies with single-entry and double-entry books respectively). The President of the Economic Chamber of Commerce, with a post on Facebook, stressed that the competent Deputy Minister of Finance, Apostolos Vessiropoulos, has been asked to extend the deadline for submission of all declarations and that this request has been accepted after the holiday.

A problem also arises with the auctions. On Thursday and Friday, auctions are scheduled to take place. At least for the areas affected by «Hope», a suspension is requested, which requires specific legislation. Finally, an extension is also requested by the Ministry of Environment for the electronic building identification. It is very likely that there will be announcements (or even the filing of legislation within the day).