The Revenue Agency in Greece is starting inspections of foreigners who own properties in the country and there are suspicions that they are renting them out without paying taxes.
The reason is a protest by owners of private apartments in Asprovalta, BNR specifies. According to a report by the state television ERT, there is an official complaint to the financial services that foreigners, mainly from Balkan countries, are renting out properties to their compatriots in Asprovalta without paying taxes. Owners of private accommodations in the tourist town are reporting a significant drop in customers, which they say is due to unfair competition from owners from the Balkan countries, the complaint states.
According to local brokers, Bulgarians have purchased dozens of properties in the Asprovalta area in the last five years, from apartments to villas.
Many Bulgarian citizens advertise that they are renting out their property for the season through various platforms, including special groups on Facebook. The Greek authorities have introduced additional regulation on this market to stop income evasion and tax evasion. Fines start at 5 thousand euros and double for a subsequent violation, lawyers point out.
Inspections of private accommodations are actively carried out not only in Asprovalta, but also throughout Northern Greece.
Detailed statistics on average property prices in Bulgaria by city and neighborhood can be seen at imot.bg