Freelancers, or self-employed professionals in Greece continue to report extremely low annual turnover to tax authorities, despite the implementation of a minimum presumptive income system. The Independent Authority for Public Revenue’s (AADE) data reveals that four out of 10 such professionals declared an average turnover – not profits – of less than 30,000 euros.
More specifically, according to AADE 869,542 self-employed individuals and sole proprietors, who filed taxes for 2023, declared an average turnover of less than 30,000 euros. With net profits typically amounting to just one-third or even one-quarter of turnover, thousands reported poverty-level incomes or even losses. While more than half of these professionals fell into the presumptive income trap, leading to higher tax payments.
Self-employed professions such as lawyers, real estate agents, taxi drivers, architects and hairdressers declared average annual turnover of less than 25,000 euros, while only one in 10 reported earnings exceeding 100,000 euros. Plumbers, electricians and carpenters, on the other hand, saw turnover increases of 25% to 30% compared to last year.
However, some professionals appear to have taken advantage of the new system, declaring lower gross revenue than in previous years.
Amongst the highest turnover bracket, as recorded, were 203 taxpayers in the wholesale tobacco trade, with an average annual turnover of 1,202,704 euros, down from 1,295,860 euros in 2022.
3,304 taxpayers in the retail fuel trade also recorded a high average turnover of 669,782 euros, though it was down from the 772,275 euros in 2022.
Finally, 67 taxpayers in the animal feed manufacturing sector reported average revenue of 476,685 euros, down from 484,631euros in 2022.
