Accounting & Tax Compliance in Greece

Statutory accounts, VAT returns, and corporate tax filings aligned with Greek accounting standards (Law 4308/2014), including e-invoicing compliance ahead of the 2026 mandate.

Greece Reviewed September 2026

Currency

EUR

Corporate tax rate

22% standard (29% for certain credit institutions under the DTA regime)

VAT standard rate

24%

Legal forms

IKE · AE · EPE

Bookkeeping standard

Greek Accounting Standards (Law 4308/2014), or IFRS for listed entities

Annual filing

Annual accounts filed with the General Commercial Registry (GEMI) within 9 months of year-end

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How accounting and tax compliance work in Greece

Greece applies a standard 22% corporate income tax rate, with most companies — AE, IKE, EPE — taxed identically regardless of legal form. The IKE, Greece's most commonly used structure for SMEs, can be formed with just €1 in minimum share capital and, when using the standard model statute through the e-YMS one-stop platform, requires no notary at all — making it one of the more accessible entity formations in the EU.

Operating in Greece combines an accessible entity formation process — IKE incorporation can complete without a notary — with a social security system that, unlike most EU markets, applies a defined monthly contribution ceiling, changing cost dynamics for higher-salary roles.

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Rate structure and what it applies to

22% standard (29% for certain credit institutions under the DTA regime)

Social security contribution cap — at €7,761.94/month (2026) — income above this level is exempt from further EFKA contributions
IKE formation without notary — when using the standard model statute through the e-YMS online platform, reducing setup time and cost materially
New employment incentive — — a 50% super-deduction on employer social security contributions for qualifying new full-time hires, subject to statutory limits
Mandatory e-invoicing rollout — for all small businesses and freelancers, planned by 2026 as part of broader digitalisation of the Greek tax system

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Rates that apply in Greece

Rate	Applies to
24%	Standard rate — most goods and services
13% and 6%	Reduced rate(s) — defined categories of goods and services

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Greek Accounting Standards (Law 4308/2014), or IFRS for listed entities, and when an audit is required

Statutory bookkeeping in Greece follows Greek Accounting Standards (Law 4308/2014), or IFRS for listed entities. Statutory audit mandatory above 2 of 3 thresholds: €5.5M balance sheet, €11M turnover, 50 employees — aligned with EU harmonized thresholds.

Confirm your audit obligation

Annual accounts and registration

Annual accounts filed with the General Commercial Registry (GEMI) within 9 months of year-end.

Entity registration runs through the General Commercial Registry (GEMI), via the e-YMS one-stop platform for standard IKE bylaws, typically taking A few days (e-YMS, standard bylaws) to a few weeks.

Plan your filing calendar

Frequently asked questions

How does the Greek social security contribution cap work?

Combined employer and employee EFKA contributions total 35.16% of gross salary, but only up to a monthly ceiling of €7,761.94 for 2026. Once an employee's monthly salary exceeds this amount, no further social security contributions are due on the excess, materially reducing the relative employer cost for higher-salary roles.

How can an IKE be formed without a notary?

When using the standard model statute (rather than a bespoke deed with custom shareholder terms) through Greece's e-YMS online one-stop platform, an IKE can be incorporated without notarial involvement, reducing both cost and timeline. A notary becomes necessary only for non-standard governance structures or in-kind capital contributions.

Why is Greece's dividend tax so low?

Greece taxes dividends at a flat 5%, the lowest rate in the EU, as part of a broader strategy to attract investment and encourage profit repatriation. This applies after the standard 22% corporate income tax has already been paid at the company level.

What is the difference between an IKE and an AE?

An IKE requires just €1 in minimum capital and suits the vast majority of SME and foreign-owned subsidiary formations. An AE requires €25,000 and a more formal governance structure, typically used for larger companies or those seeking to raise capital publicly.

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The social security contribution cap is frequently overlooked by companies modelling Greek employment cost on uncapped European assumptions. For senior roles with salaries materially above the monthly ceiling, Greek employer cost flattens in a way that doesn't occur in markets without an equivalent cap — a structural advantage worth factoring into regional hiring comparisons.

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