Greek employees must work for 179 days—almost six months of the year—before they have effectively earned enough to cover their taxes and social security contributions.
Today, June 29, 2026, marks Greece’s Tax Freedom Day, the symbolic date when, according to a study by the Centre for Liberal Studies (KEFiM), taxpayers have fulfilled their obligations to the state and can begin earning income that they are free to spend as they choose.
Although the country’s tax burden has eased slightly compared with last year—by just one day—the improvement remains marginal. Since 2019, the number of days Greeks work to finance the state has fallen from 181 to 179, highlighting the slow pace of change.
Despite this modest progress, Greece is still expected to have the ninth-highest tax burden in the European Union in 2026. Greek taxpayers effectively work two more days for the state than the EU average, which stands at 177 days.
The report notes that Greece ranks fifth in the EU for improving its tax burden between 2019 and 2026 and is one of only five member states to have recorded a reduction over that period. However, the country’s public finances remain heavily dependent on indirect taxation.
According to KEFiM, indirect tax revenues in 2026 are projected to be around 1.6 times higher than revenues from direct taxes. Value-added tax (VAT) is expected to account for 71.5% of all indirect tax receipts, up from 70.4% in 2025, underscoring the growing reliance on consumption taxes.
The study also highlights stronger-than-expected tax collections in 2025. Revenue from taxes on goods and services exceeded the original budget target by 3.9%, while income tax receipts came in 5.3% above forecast. The largest overperformance was recorded in personal income tax, with revenues from individuals exceeding expectations by 5%.
“The shift of Tax Freedom Day by one day earlier is a positive but limited development,” said KEFiM President Nicos Rompapas. “Citizens in Greece still spend nearly half the year working to pay taxes and social security contributions, while the country’s overall tax burden remains above the European average.”
