Greece – Public consultation on the regulation on fines for VAT declarations

The Greek Ministry of National Economy and Finance has recently introduced a new tax bill, currently undergoing public consultation as of late March 2026, which proposes significant changes to the penalty framework for tax compliance. A primary focus of this legislation is the reform of fines for late submissions of  VAT declarations where no tax is actually due (zero or credit returns).

Key Proposed Changes to Penalties
The new bill aims to balance strict compliance with a more proportionate approach for administrative errors that do not result in lost state revenue (Zero or Credit Returns)

– A standard €100 fine is proposed for the late or non-submission of VAT returns, even when the return is zero or results in a credit. Previously, these fines were often higher or more variable based on the entity’s bookkeeping obligations.

– This flat €100 penalty will specifically apply to all entities obligated to maintain bookkeeping records, ensuring a uniform approach to late filings.

– The bill includes provisions to abolish or reduce penalties for specific historical violations if the principal tax amounts are settled within defined time frames (e.g., by December 31, 2026).

The public consultation period allows stakeholders to provide feedback on these measures before they are officially enacted into law. Businesses are encouraged to review their internal filing processes to ensure all declarations—regardless of tax due—are submitted on time to avoid the new €100 administrative penalty.