Draft bill to target self-employed, freelancers who declare low income

Α draft bill that will specifically target self-employed who systematically declare extremely low annual incomes is underway by the Finance Ministry.

Minister Kostis Hatzidakis reportedly plans to present the bill to the cabinet next week with the aim to crack down tax evasion.

Speaking to media, finance ministry sources said the changes will be to the system for taxing the self-employed and not to the taxation rates, which will remain unchanged.

Based on the results of the 2022 income tax declarations analyzed by the Independent Authority for Public Revenues AADE, half a million of self-employed workers, just under 70 percent, declared earnings of up to 10,000 euros a year, which is less than the minimum wage.

This means that many employers are declaring a smaller income than the people in their employ, the sources noted.

Only 4.3% declare more than 40,000 euros a year.