Greece is transforming its tax system through technology, aiming to leave behind years of financial crisis and inefficiency.
A former shopping mall outside Athens has become the headquarters of the Independent Authority for Public Revenue. Inside, inspectors use drones, big data, and live feeds from remote ports and villages to catch tax cheats in real time.
Analysts monitor millions of transactions daily, flagging suspicious activity through algorithms. These digital tools replace the outdated paper-based methods that once symbolised Greece’s weak tax system.
The impact has been dramatic. Greece, once Europe’s financial outcast, recorded a budget surplus in 2024 and continues to exceed revenue targets this year. Major rating agencies have upgraded its bonds to investment grade, signalling international confidence.
Nightclub raids like “Saturday Night Fever” highlight the new approach. Inspectors compared mobile phone activity to receipts, uncovering undeclared sales and doubling reported revenues within days.
Revenue growth has allowed the government to cut taxes by €1.6 billion, though critics argue inequality remains high. Opposition parties warn that a 24 per cent sales tax, introduced during austerity, continues to hurt lower earners.
Digital payments are now common at markets, and by November, all businesses must accept Greece’s IRIS instant payment system.
Officials say artificial intelligence will be integrated further by 2026, strengthening enforcement. Finance Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis calls the shift irreversible.
Greece’s digital revolution shows how crisis-driven reforms can reshape a nation’s economy and restore public trust.
