Greece reports €6.5 billion primary budget surplus for eight-month period

primary surplus tax revenues VAT Greek budget fiscal performance

Greece's state budget recorded a primary surplus of €6.534 billion for the eight-month period from January to August 2026, significantly exceeding the target of €4.989 billion. Net revenues reached €51.351 billion, surpassing the budget target by €2.331 billion.

Tax revenues totaled €49.481 billion, representing a €1.353 billion increase over the target. This growth was primarily driven by higher VAT collections and income tax, reflecting rising prices and incomes. However, Special Consumption Tax (SCT) revenues saw a decline of approximately €200 million compared to the previous year, attributed to reduced fuel consumption due to high prices.

When excluding extraordinary receipts—such as the Egnatia Odos concession and the second installment for the Elliniko casino license—as well as payment deferrals related to the Public Investment Program, the primary surplus exceeded targets by €219 million. Total expenditures rose to €51.825 billion, largely due to the acceleration of projects funded by the Recovery and Resilience Facility.

Entities

Egnatia Odos · General Accounting Office · General Accounting Office of the State · Greece · Ministry of National Economy and Finance · Recovery and Resilience Facility · Recovery and Resilience Fund

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 3 SOURCES] Regular tax revenues exceeded the eight-month target by 1.35 billion euros, excluding extraordinary receipts. dete.gr · www.alphatv.gr · www.iefimerida.gr
[● 2 SOURCES] The primary surplus exceeded targets by 219 million euros after excluding extraordinary receipts and payment deferrals. dete.gr · www.alphatv.gr
[○ 1 SOURCE] VAT revenues exceeded the target by 905 million euros during the eight-month period. www.iefimerida.gr
[○ 1 SOURCE] Personal income tax revenues increased by 433 million euros. www.iefimerida.gr
[● 3 SOURCES] The primary budget surplus for the January–August 2026 period reached 6.53 billion euros. dete.gr · www.alphatv.gr · www.iefimerida.gr
[● 2 SOURCES] Net state revenues for the eight-month period totaled 51.351 billion euros. dete.gr · www.alphatv.gr
[○ 1 SOURCE] Budget expenditures increased by 1.195 billion euros compared to the target, largely due to the Recovery and Resilience Fund. www.iefimerida.gr
[○ 1 SOURCE] Excise tax revenues lagged behind targets due to a decline in fuel sales caused by higher prices. dete.gr