Greece Council of State clarifies property tax acquisition rules

A recent decision by the Council of State (Decision 2086/2025) clarifies the distinction between a property's objective value and its actual purchase price regarding tax justifications in Greece.

When a property is purchased for a price lower than its official objective value, the buyer must justify the actual amount paid—not the higher objective value—to the tax authorities, provided the transaction can be proven. This actual price, plus associated costs like transfer taxes, forms the basis for the acquisition criterion.

However, the transfer tax itself is calculated based on the higher of the two values. This means a buyer may be taxed for the transfer based on the objective value while only needing to prove the lower, actual purchase price to satisfy income and savings requirements.