E-Invoicing in Greece: Streamlining Digital Tax Compliance

Adoption and Updates

In 2023 e-invoicing became mandatory in Greece for all local, regional and national contracting authorities under Law 4601/2019.

The Ministry of Digital Government appointed the General Secretariat for Information Systems to be the national PEPPOL Authority. They are the point of contact for online purchasing and government activities across Europe. This includes defining national e-invoicing policies, rules for exchanging invoices and technical standards.

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As of 2024, recent updates regarding e-invoicing include:

Plans for mandatory VAT e-invoicing, possibly starting in 2025.
Incentives for taxpayers to adopt e-invoicing through certified providers.
Providers use of QR codes to verify authenticity.

E-Invoicing Requirements

Let's look at the basic requirements for e-invoicing in Greece, which are in line with those set by the European Union.

Invoices must be in a standard electronic format, XML. They should contain key information, including the invoice number, date of issue, buyer and seller details, the total amount invoiced and a description of the goods and services.
Electronic invoices should be easily accessible and archived for a minimum of five years.

How to Send Compliant E-Invoices in Greece

To comply with e-invoicing regulations in Greece, companies need to take certain steps:

Register for E-Invoicing: To access the e-invoicing platform and start using the system, companies must register with the Greek Tax Authority.
Digital Signature and Certificate: A digital signature and certificate are required to prove the authenticity of e-invoices and prevent information tampering.
Preparing E-Invoices: When issuing electronic invoices, it's important to use accounting or business software that follows the rules set by the Greek Ministry of Finance. As mentioned earlier, invoices should include seller and buyer details, invoice date, tax amount, and product/service description.
Validation and Transmission: The e-invoice is sent via PEPPOL to the Interoperability Center for validation. The Interoperability Center then sends the e-invoice securely through the Greek tax platform, myDATA.
MyDATA Platform Controls: The e-invoice is checked and assigned a "unique entry number."
Processing by Contracting Authority: The contracting authority/public entity receives the e-invoice and processes it according to it's internal procurement using an approved IT system/web application. Processing status updates are then sent back to the sender via the Interoperability Center.

Conclusion

E-invoicing is mandatory for government agencies and offers efficiency, transparency and compliance benefits for businesses in Greece. Businesses can easily navigate the e-invoicing landscape and contribute to the country's digital transformation journey by following the established regulations and procedures.