Special topics

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Tax treatment of listed shares and stock options

1. Tax treatment of listed shares, where the seller also holds stock options The Greek law (article 42 par. 1 (b) of the Greek Income Tax Code – “ITC”) provides for an exemption from capital gains tax of 15% on the capital gains derived from the transfer of listed shares where the seller holds less than 0.5% of the listed company’s share capital. The question of whether stock options are taken into consideration for the determination of the holding percentage in order to assess the application of the tax exemption is not explicitly regulated by the Greek tax law. However, stock options, by...

02 Jun 2025

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Transfer of Business and protection of employees’ rights under Greek law

in Labor & Employment, Special topics

Transfer of Business With the decree 178/2002 (A΄ 162) "Measures concerning the protection of workers' rights in the event of transfer of undertakings, establishments or parts of establishments or businesses, in compliance with Council Directive 98/50/EC", Greek legislation has been adapted to the provisions of Council Directive 2001/23/EC of 12 March 2001 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the safeguarding of employees' rights in the event of transfers of undertakings, establishments or parts of establishments or businesses. Where the Decree applies (Article 2) The Decree applies to any contractual or statutory transfer or merger of undertakings, establishments...

21 May 2025

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Swiss nationals: right to reside in Greece

Case study: a Swiss citizen with a spouse from a third country and minor children with Swiss nationality. Swiss nationals have the same right to reside and work in Greece as EU nationals, specifically with minimum obligations and after a very simple procedure. The same applies to their children, provided they are also Swiss nationals. In addition, in case their spouses are not Swiss nationals, but third country nationals, they will be given a residence permit to reside and work in Greece as spouses of Swiss nationals, through a little more complicated process, including some travel restrictions during the period until...

19 May 2025

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Issuance of residence permit to financially independent persons

in Immigration Law, Special topics

Under Article 163 par. 8 of Law 5038/2023 and by decision of the General Secretary of the Region, a three-year residence permit is granted to a third-country national provided that the third-country national has obtained a special visa (VISA D) and is in possession of sufficient resources corresponding to a stable annual income to cover the living expenses, which may be renewed for a period of equal duration subject to the fulfillment of the other requirements provided for in the applicable law. The amount of sufficient resources is laid down in a Joint Ministerial Decision pursuant to para. 51 of...

08 May 2025

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Days of Leave and Other Benefits for Employees With Children

in Labor & Employment, Special topics

Greek legislation provides a range of benefits and types of leave for working parents, related to the birth, upbringing, daily care, and education of children. The following is a detailed overview of the main categories of leave under current labor legislation, as well as the tax benefits available to working parents. Leave for working parents • Maternity Leave (Childbirth & Postpartum) Maternity leave is granted to working women for a total duration of 17 weeks, of which 8 weeks precede childbirth and 9 weeks follow it (Article 11 of Law 2874/2000). In cases of premature birth, any unused leave from the pre-birth period...

15 Apr 2025

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Tax treatment of joint bank accounts in the event of succession

in Special topics

The joint bank account in Greek law is governed by the provisions of Law 5638/1932, as amended and in force. The basic feature of a joint bank account is that it has several beneficiaries, each of whom may use the account in whole or in part, without the cooperation of the other joint holders. The internal relationship linking the joint beneficiaries may be a burdensome (company, loan) or gratuitous (donation/parental gift) relationship. It should, however, be made clear that the mere entry of a beneficiary into a bank account does not in itself constitute a taxable transaction. On the contrary, a...

03 Apr 2025

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Tax treatment of dividends and capital gains according to the DTT between Greece and Switzerland

Based on the DTT between Greece and Switzerland, the following apply in relation to dividends and capital gains taxation: Dividends (article 10) Dividends paid by a company which is a resident of Switzerland to a resident of Greece may be taxed in Greece. However, such dividends may also be taxed in Switzerland according to the laws of that State, but if the recipient is the beneficial owner of the dividends, the tax charged shall not exceed 15% of the gross amount of the dividends. This tax treatment shall not affect the taxation of the company in respect of the profits out of...

03 Apr 2025

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Taxation of dividends, interest, royalties, capital gains and income from immovable property

Quick guide: Taxation of dividends, interest, royalties, capital gains and income from immovable property Tax treatment of income earned by an individual in Greece in cash or in kind in the form of dividends, interest, royalties, capital gains and income from immovable property is as follows: i. Dividends The term “dividends” means any income derived from shares, founding titles, or other participation rights in profits that do not constitute claims from debts (liabilities), as well as income from other corporate rights, including quotas, shares, including pre-distributions and mathematical reserves, participation in profits of personal businesses, profit distributions from any type of legal...

02 Apr 2025

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Taxation Freelance activity sole-trader business in Greece – standard Greek tax rules