Greece targets undeclared short-term rentals via digital tracking

Greek tax authorities (AADE) have intensified efforts to combat tax evasion in the short-term rental market by utilizing digital footprints and citizen reports. A high-profile case in Mykonos involved a luxury villa renting for 5,000 euros per night. Despite its heavy presence on social media and booking platforms, the property was not registered in the Short-Term Rental Registry. Following a detailed citizen complaint that included specific addresses, booking links, and bank account details, investigators confirmed the illegal activity and imposed significant fines on the owner.

This incident highlights a broader shift in how authorities track undeclared income. By cross-referencing declared income with data from platforms such as Airbnb, Booking.com, and Vrbo for the years 2020–2022, authorities identified 24,383 tax identification numbers (AFMs) with discrepancies exceeding 500 euros. These individuals had failed to register their business activities. The number of detected discrepancies has risen steadily from 6,222 in 2020 to 17,525 in 2022, prompting calls for taxpayers to submit corrective declarations.