Μake us preferred on Google Another instance of tax-evasion in the lucrative tourism sector has been uncovered in western Greece, where a random inspection found that 132 rental cars officially declared off-the-books were still being driven and leased to customers.
The case came to light when inspectors from Greece’s Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE) carried out an on-site check of a rental vehicle. Using the authority’s digital auditing tools, they found that the vehicle had been declared immobilized but was simultaneously listed as rented and in circulation.
The discovery prompted tax inspectors to expand the audit to the entire rental company. They found that a total of 132 vehicles had been declared immobilized, and thus not paying road fees, while also appearing in a digital vehicle customer registry as rented.
Under Greek law, vehicles that are driven despite being declared immobilized are subject to a 10,000-euro fine each, in addition to road taxes and other applicable charges. Based on the inspection findings, AADE imposed total fines of 1.32 million euros on the company.
The tax authority is continuing and expanding inspections of the company as well as other car-rental businesses across the country, using digital tools and cross-checking available data to identify vehicles officially declared off the road but actually being driven or rented out.
The case comes as AADE has stepped up tax inspections during the 2026 summer tourism season, targeting sectors and areas considered particularly vulnerable to tax evasion. The authority’s inspection plan includes accommodations, food service, entertainment, retail and vehicle rental services.
AADE has said it plans 4,000 on-site and preventive inspections this year, using risk analysis and cross-checks of tax returns, VAT, myDATA and point-of-sale data. Tourist islands and other areas with high seasonal activity are among the main targets.
The intensified campaign follows a series of inspections this summer. In east Attica prefecture, for example, AADE inspectors checked and audited 38 restaurants, cafes, bars and leisure businesses in high tourist areas, finding tax-law violations at 20 and recording 150 infractions.
