Around €191 million in tax refunds remain unclaimed in Greece, with the country’s tax authority searching for thousands of beneficiaries who have not completed the necessary steps to receive their money.
The Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE) says many taxpayers have failed to provide an IBAN bank account number, have not submitted valid contact details or have not provided the required documents needed to complete the refund process.
According to the latest figures from the Ministry of Finance, pending tax refunds totaled €737 million at the end of April. Of this amount, €191 million concerns cases where taxpayers have not responded or have not completed the required procedures.
Despite the delays, AADE aims to return more than €8 billion in taxes this year.
Efforts to reduce pending tax refunds
Speeding up tax refunds is a key priority for AADE, which is focusing on reducing cases that remain unresolved for more than 90 days.
The authority’s updated operational plan includes a target of reducing the backlog of long-pending refund cases to 700,000 by the end of the year. The figure includes exceptions such as cases under legal dispute, mutual administrative assistance procedures, small refunds of up to €5 processed only through central offsets, and requests delayed due to taxpayer-related issues.
AADE also aims to complete pending non-overdue refunds, excluding VAT cases, within 90 days when no tax audit is required.
Faster VAT refund procedures
A major part of the plan involves increasing automation in VAT refund processing.
AADE wants more than 95% of VAT refund requests to be handled automatically, with the goal of completing eligible cases within 90 days.
The new model relies on automated checks, risk analysis systems and limited human intervention. The aim is to speed up legitimate refunds while identifying cases that require additional review.
Digital tools and priority treatment for compliant businesses
Digital transformation is at the center of the new refund system, with applications assessed through automated procedures and risk-based evaluation.
A key tool is AADE’s so-called “Golden List,” which includes businesses and professionals with a strong record of tax compliance. Companies on the list can benefit from faster refund processing if they meet criteria such as a positive audit history, no tax or customs violations and no involvement in suspicious intra-community transactions.
AADE says the changes are designed to reduce delays, improve transparency and strengthen liquidity for businesses and citizens waiting for tax refunds.
The operational plan also sets deadlines for completing outstanding refund cases from previous years, with the authority aiming to clear overdue refunds that were pending at the end of 2025 by November 30, 2026.
