“Uncovering Tax Evasion: How Greek Authorities Use Lifestyle Audits to Ensure Fairness” – tovima.com

Greek tax authorities are ramping up efforts to catch taxpayers who report suspiciously low incomes. Some people claim to earn just around €10,000 while spending lavishly—sometimes €50,000, €100,000, or even €200,000 a year.

The Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE) has pinpointed 800 individuals whose spending does not match their declared income. These people will face thorough audits, which may even include scrutiny of their bank accounts.

Among those under investigation are 20 social media influencers suspected of hiding income from sponsorships and product sales.

AADE Governor Giorgos Pitsilis shared that the agency is focusing on these 800 individuals. They declared low incomes, yet their high expenses raise red flags. Those individuals must now prove where their extra money comes from. If they can’t, they risk paying additional taxes and facing penalties.

The audits will utilize special investigative teams armed with advanced algorithms to spot discrepancies in reported incomes and spending. Taxpayers whose lifestyle doesn’t align with what they earn or who own assets without clear financial sources will be prioritized for further checks. Here’s how the audits will work:

• Liquidity analysis of the taxpayer.
• Net worth evaluation.
• Examination of bank deposits and spending habits.

Initial findings show that the focus will be on cases where declared income is insufficient to cover reported expenses or where there are sudden increases in assets.

In a targeted effort, tax investigators are paying special attention to 20 influencers. They suspect these individuals are not reporting income from ads and product endorsements. The authorities will closely monitor financial transactions, including deposits and withdrawals, to find any undeclared earnings.

To track down any digital tax evaders, auditors use several methods:

✔ Social media monitoring: Auditors check platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook, especially focusing on those with large followings who advertise products.

✔ E-commerce ties: They look into connections between influencers and online businesses to see if they promote and sell products without declaring income.

✔ Online transactions: Each transaction linked to business activities is thoroughly examined.

✔ Algorithmic cross-checking: An algorithm checks declared incomes against actual financial activities, including personal taxes and online sales data.

✔ Courier data collection: Authorities obtain information from courier services to track the delivery of goods from unregistered businesses.

At the same time, auditors use social media activity to discover individuals whose extravagant lifestyles don’t match what they claim to earn. This focused approach aims to ensure that everyone pays their fair share of taxes.