«Tax Freedom Day» is June 29th for workers in Greece, who need to work one semester a year (179 days in fact) to be able to pay taxes and contributions to the state.
Consequently, they have at their disposal the remaining six months - free of taxes and levies - to spend on the rest of their income.
Although the tax burden appears slightly lower than last year, by just one day, Greece ranks in the countries with the highest tax burden in the European Union, while state revenue continues to rely mainly on indirect taxation and especially VAT.
As stated in the study prepared by the Centre for Liberal Studies (KEFIM), this is a marginal improvement, as from 2019 to 2026, the tax burden was reduced by a total of only two days (from 181 to 179).
The main conclusions of the study
The main conclusions of the study signed by the Assistant Researcher of KEFIM Ioannis Navrozidis and the President of KEFIM Nikos Robapas are as follows:
- June 29th is Tax Freedom Day for 2026.
- Citizens will work 179 days for the state this year, one day less than 2025.
From 2019 to 2026, the tax burden has been reduced by just two days.
Greece is expected to have the 9th highest tax burden among the Member States of the European Union.
-The tax burden in Greece remains two days higher than the EU average, which corresponds to 177 working days for the state.
Greece presents the fifth largest improvement in the EU between 2019 and 2026. It is one of only five countries which have reduced their tax burden during this period.
-In 2026 the dependence of state revenue on indirect taxes is expected to be further strengthened. Income from indirect taxes is projected to be around 1.6 times higher than income from direct persons.
VAT is expected to account for 71.5% of all indirect taxes, compared with 70.4% in 2025.
-In 2025, tax revenue on goods and services is estimated to exceed the original budget target by 3.9%, while income tax revenue by 5.3%.
-The largest income tax yield came from natural persons, with the relative revenues being shaped 5% higher than the target.
As the president of KEFIM stated, Nikos Robapas «moving Tax Freedom Day by one day earlier is a positive, but marginal development. Citizens in Greece continue to work almost half the year to cover taxes and insurance contributions, while our country remains above the European average in terms of total tax burden. The most effective treatment of tax evasion is an important success. The additional revenue resulting from the extension of the tax base must, however, create a budgetary area for a further reduction in tax rates and a reduction in the consequent tax burden.».
As it mentions features, «the country needs a simpler, more stable and more competitive tax system, with less reliance on taxes on daily consumption and with a numbering of tax scales, so that citizens are not burdened more only by inflation».
