Tax Authority, Labour Inspectorate and e-EFKA launch joint inspection campaign in Corfu and Ionian Islands – 4,000 summer checks

Corfu and the rest of the Ionian Islands are at the centre of this summer's enforcement campaign, with the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE), the Labour Inspectorate and e-EFKA forming joint inspection teams to carry out targeted checks on tourism-related businesses. AADE's operational plan provides for at least 4,000 on-site inspections across Greece during the tourist season, with particular emphasis on popular island destinations, including Corfu.

The joint operations are aimed at tackling tax evasion, undeclared employment and social security contribution evasion simultaneously. The mixed inspection teams carry out unannounced checks at restaurants, cafés, beach bars, hotels, rental accommodation, vehicle and boat rental companies, travel agencies and other businesses serving the tourism sector.

AADE examines whether receipts are being issued correctly, whether point-of-sale (POS) terminals are properly connected to cash registers, whether transactions are being transmitted to the myDATA digital platform, and whether declared revenues match the online transaction records. At the same time, the Labour Inspectorate verifies compliance with labour legislation, declared working hours, and cases of undeclared or under-declared employment, while e-EFKA checks that employees are properly insured and that the required social security contributions are being paid.

Businesses are not selected at random. AADE uses data from VAT returns, online payments, the myDATA platform, records of previous violations and risk analysis algorithms to direct inspection teams towards businesses with a higher likelihood of non-compliance. The objective of this new model is to conduct a single, integrated inspection covering businesses' tax, labour and social security obligations at the same time, reducing the need for multiple visits by different government agencies.

The results of last year's inspections showed that businesses in the tourism and hospitality sectors continue to record some of the highest rates of non-compliance, explaining why tourist destinations across the Ionian Islands are once again a primary focus of this year's enforcement campaign. Businesses found failing to issue receipts, employing undeclared workers or violating social security legislation face the fines and administrative penalties provided for under current law.

GIORGOS KATSAITIS