Greece has modernised its company administration quickly. The General Commercial Registry (GEMI) holds corporate records and published financial statements, the tax authority (AADE) runs the myAADE and myDATA platforms, and since 2026 professional sources describe automated cross-checks between the two. A company that files its tax return but has not published its financial statements can now be flagged automatically. That makes the calendar less forgiving than it used to be.

This guide covers the private company (idiotiki kefalaiouchiki etairia, IKE), the usual vehicle for a foreign-owned subsidiary, and notes where the société anonyme (AE) and a branch differ. It is written for founders and for legal, finance and operations teams.

Updated November 9, 2026. Greek filing dates are often adjusted by decisions of the tax authority, so this guide separates standard dates from temporary extensions and tells you where to confirm them.

Entity compliance Greece: the quick answer

• Publish the annual financial statements in GEMI. Professional sources describe a period of six months after the end of the fiscal year, and audits depend on the size of the company.

• File the corporate income tax return through myAADE. For the 2025 tax year with a 31 December year-end, the filing window ran from 13 March to 15 July 2026, and the first instalment fell at the end of July.

• Issue and report invoices through the myDATA e-invoicing system, and file VAT returns on time.

• Keep the beneficial owner registry and the GEMI records current after any change.

What determines a Greek company's compliance requirements?

The legal form and the size decide the work. The IKE is a flexible form with low capital requirements aimed at small and medium businesses. The AE faces stricter governance, and larger companies and branches face audit requirements based on size. Professional sources emphasize that publication of financial statements applies even where an audit exemption applies.

Ownership matters too. Foreign investment is generally open, but professional sources describe a new screening regime for some investments, so check the sector. A foreign parent does not change the filing duties but affects beneficial owner reporting and related-party pricing.

Annual entity requirements in Greece: the core checklist

1. Financial statements and publication in GEMI

Capital companies, cooperatives, foreign branches and certain partnerships publish their financial statements in GEMI. Professional sources describe a six-month period after year-end for submission. Professional guidance also describes fines for not publishing, with bands that professional sources put between EUR 1,000 and EUR 100,000 per financial year, rising with the size of the entity and the length of the breach. Treat the numbers as indicative and confirm the current penalty framework with a Greek adviser.

2. Corporate income tax return

Companies file the corporate income tax return electronically through myAADE under the annual decision of the tax authority. For the 2025 tax year, professional and news sources described a filing deadline of 15 July 2026, which the authority then extended to 24 July 2026 for individuals and legal entities. That extension was a temporary measure, so do not treat the later date as the standard deadline for future years. Payment is made in instalments, with the first due at the end of the month after the filing deadline. The corporate income tax rate is 22 percent according to commonly published rates.

3. Prepayment of tax

Each year businesses prepay a percentage of the income tax due. The rate and the way it is collected can change, so ask your accountant for the current percentage and include it in the cash plan.

4. Electronic invoicing and myDATA

Professional sources describe mandatory myDATA e-invoicing rolling out in phases, with real-time reporting of invoices and transactions to the tax authority. Check which phase applies to your company and which invoice formats the platform accepts. Accounting records and invoices should match what is reported.

5. Beneficial owners and registry updates

Greek companies report ultimate beneficial owners to the registry and keep the data current. Changes to administrators, shareholders, seat and articles are recorded in GEMI. Professional sources describe automated penalty notices starting in 2026 for entities with outstanding filings, so respond to notices within the stated period to preserve appeal rights.

Tax and indirect tax obligations

The standard VAT rate is 24 percent, with reduced rates for some goods and services and lower rates on some islands. VAT returns are filed monthly or quarterly depending on the bookkeeping category. Intra-EU supplies need a summary statement.

Payments to non-residents can attract withholding tax, with rates depending on the type of payment and relief under treaties and EU rules. Related-party transactions need arm's-length pricing and documentation above thresholds. Greek companies also face a business-related levy and local property taxes on assets.

Foreign-owned subsidiaries

Foreign persons can own Greek companies. An IKE can be formed with a small amount of capital, according to professional sources, and registration goes through GEMI with filing fees in the low hundreds of euros. The company needs a registered seat in Greece and at least one administrator. Foreign shareholders obtain a Greek tax number, and foreign corporate shareholders provide apostilled documents with sworn translations.

Banks apply due diligence to foreign-owned accounts and ask for the beneficial owner information. Intercompany loans, services and royalties need contracts, and thin capitalization and interest limits can restrict deductions.

First-year and event-triggered obligations

In the first year, the company is registered in GEMI, obtains its tax number, registers for VAT, registers with the unified social insurance fund if it hires, opens a bank account and sets up myDATA access. The first financial statements cover the period from incorporation.

Events that trigger filings include a change of administrators, a share transfer, a capital change, a change of seat, a merger and a liquidation. Most are filed in GEMI, with late notification of administrator changes listed among the common penalties.

Employment and local requirements

Greek employers register employees with the unified social insurance fund (e-EFKA), report work schedules and contracts through the labour ministry's information system, and pay employer contributions. Employees receive holiday bonuses and a Christmas bonus under local law, paid annual leave and notice rights tied to service. Professional sources note a recent law that streamlines work and residence permits for employer-sponsored hires. Many foreign-owned subsidiaries use a local payroll provider.

Record-keeping and governance in Greece

Greek bookkeeping rules require companies to keep books and supporting documents for several years, and professional sources commonly cite five years, extended in some cases by tax audit limitation periods, so ask your accountant for the period that applies. Keep invoices in the format reported to myDATA, together with contracts and bank records that support each transaction. The administrator signs the financial statements, and the shareholders approve them at a meeting or by written decision, so keep the minutes with the published version. A company that receives a tax audit notice should respond within the stated period and keep a log of every exchange with the authority.

Practical steps for a new foreign parent

A foreign parent that takes over a Greek subsidiary should ask for the GEMI certificate, the last published statements, the tax clearance position, the myAADE access details and the list of open notices before closing. Confirm who holds the credentials for the tax and registry platforms, and move them to named people at the new owner. Agree a handover of the calendar, because the first year after an acquisition is when filings most often slip.

Build a compliance calendar for Greece

A compliance calendar turns the rules above into dated tasks with named owners. Start from the financial year-end and the incorporation anniversary, then add the recurring monthly and quarterly items. Review it each quarter, because deadlines, extensions and registry systems change.

• January to March: close the books and review beneficial owner and GEMI records.

• March to July: file the corporate income tax return within the window set by the authority.

• End of the month after filing: pay the first tax instalment.

• Within six months of year-end: publish the financial statements in GEMI.

• Monthly or quarterly: VAT returns, myDATA reporting and payroll contributions.

• After any change: update GEMI and the beneficial owner registry.

Common mistakes

• Filing the tax return but not publishing the financial statements.

• Treating a one-off extension as the standard deadline.

• Ignoring automated GEMI penalty notices.

• Not preparing for myDATA phases.

• Delaying administrator change filings.

• Using unapostilled foreign documents.

Entity compliance Greece: frequently asked questions

Where are Greek financial statements published?

In the General Commercial Registry (GEMI), within six months after the end of the fiscal year, according to professional sources.

When is the corporate income tax return due?

For the 2025 tax year it was 15 July 2026, later extended to 24 July 2026 as a temporary measure.

What is the corporate tax rate?

22 percent, based on commonly published rates.

What is myDATA?

The tax authority's platform for electronic invoicing and real-time reporting of invoices and transactions.

Do small companies need to publish statements?

Yes. Professional sources say publication applies even where an audit exemption applies.

What is the standard VAT rate?

24 percent.

How CoverPin can help

CoverPin helps finance, legal and operations teams track entity obligations across countries. See our international entities overview, learn about compliance advisory, or browse more guides in our legal and compliance resources.

This article is general information, not legal, tax or accounting advice. Confirm current requirements with the relevant authority or a qualified local adviser before acting.