The Ministry of Finance announced the expansion of the use of POS in 35 activities of the Greek economy.
The following announcement was issued by the Press Offices of the Ministries of National Economy and Finance & Development:
In the context of the implementation of the measures taken by the Government with the aim of effectively cracking down on tax evasion and eliminating underground economy practices, the Minister of Development Mr. Kostas Skrekas and the Deputy Minister of National Economy and Finance Mr. Haris Theoharis co-signed the Joint Ministerial Decision (JMA), which provides for a fundamental revision of previous arrangements for the acceptance of means of payment by card, as well as other modern payment methods.
In particular, according to the new KYA, the obligation to accept payment by card (debit or credit) is extended to an additional 35 (KAD) branches of the Greek economy.
The new KAD are shown below:
- 4711 Retail trade in non-specialized stores selling mainly food, beverages or tobacco
- 4719 Other retail trade in non-specialized stores
- 4729 Retail sale of other foodstuffs in specialized stores
- 4781 Retail sale of food, beverages and tobacco, in outdoor stalls and markets
- 4782 Retail sale of textiles, clothing and footwear, in outdoor stalls and markets
- 4789 Retail trade of other goods in open-air stalls and markets
- 4799 Other retail trade, except in stores, outdoor stalls or markets
- 4932 Taxi operation
- 6491 Leasing
- 6511 Life insurance
- 6612 Activities related to securities and goods contract transactions
- 6619 Other activities related to financial services, excluding insurance
- 6621 Risk and damage assessment
- 6622 Activities of insurance agents and brokers
- 6629 Other activities related to insurance and pension funds
- 6630 Fund management activities
- 6810 Purchase and sale of privately owned real estate
- 7021 Public relations and communication activities
- 7311 Advertising agencies
- 7312 Presentation to the media
- 7320 Market research and polls
- 7735Rental and leasing of air transport equipment
- 7740Rental of intellectual property and similar products, excluding copyrighted works
- 7810 Activities of employment agencies
- 7820 Temporary employment agency services
- 7830 Other human resource placement services
- 8220 Call center activities
- 8230 Organization of conferences and trade fairs
- 8542 Higher education
- 8552 Cultural education
- 8560 Educational support activities
- 9001Performing arts
- 9004Operation of theaters and related activities
- 9101 Activities of libraries and archives
- 9523 Repair of footwear and leather goods
Also, professionals in all retail and consumer services sectors, from 1.1.2024 onwards, will be required to accept both card payments (debit and credit) and direct payment services by transferring money between bank accounts, such as IRIS online payments service.
The Minister of Development, Kostas Skrekas, made the following statement:
“Our priority is limiting tax evasion, facilitating and protecting the consumer. With the Joint Ministerial Decision of the Ministry of Development, in collaboration with the Ministry of National Economy and Finance, the use of electronic means of payment is expanded in order to facilitate consumers in their transactions with merchants and at the same time to strengthen the security of transactions.
Expanding the use of electronic means of payment is crucial to protect the rights of consumers, consistent taxpayers and businesses, as electronic payments ensure secure transactions and healthy competition between businesses.
In this context, I would like to reiterate the commitment of the Ministry of Development to deal with illegal actions in the market and to defend the interests of the consumer with every means offered by the legislative arsenal of the State”.
Commenting on the signing of the MOU between the Ministry of National Economy and Finance and the Ministry of Development, Mr. Theoharis pointed out that “the Government of the New Democracy, with absolute consistency to its strategic planning as well as its pre-election commitments, is moving forward with decisive initiatives in campaign to eliminate the shadow economy in our country.
Today, with the MOU that we signed with the Ministry of Development, we are taking a crucial step in combating tax evasion. Establishing the obligation of businesses to accept card payments, IRIS, etc. on the one hand we are modernizing the field of daily commercial and consumer activities.
But on the other hand – and this is where the essence lies – we are greatly upgrading the transparency and security of transactions, making the scope for tax evasion, which thrives with the use of money in physical form, suffocating.
According to ifimerida, KYA is directly applicable to the expansion of the use of electronic means of payment throughout the market. Also, with regard to the sanctions in cases of non-compliance, the decision stipulates that for the period from 01.02.2024 to 01.03.2024 the imposition of a fine on the new debtors is exceptionally suspended, as long as it is proven that they have procured card acceptance terminals up to and 31.01.2024 and are waiting for its installation in their business.
Finally, it is noted that from the beneficiaries of payment by electronic means based on the KYA, a) visually impaired persons with a certified disability rate of 80% and above are excluded, and b) vending machines until 31.12.2024.
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