Greece to Mandate B2B E-Invoicing with Early Tax Benefits

The recently submitted draft of the National Customs Code and other provisions, including the pension provisions document, was submitted to the Greek Parliament by the Ministry of Finance. This draft expands the scope of application of the National Customs Code, addresses the basic concept of customs law, and outlines the responsibilities and co-responsibilities of the Customs Authority. Importantly, it also includes provisions on mandatory B2B e-invoicing.

Key Proposed Measures From National Customs Code

Under the proposed draft, Greece will implement mandatory B2B e-invoicing within the country between entities subject to national accounting rules. Additionally, the draft includes provisions on mandatory e-invoices for exports to third countries, that is, non-EU countries.

The draft proposes that e-invoices must be issued in a structured format following the European Norm. The exchange method, interoperability and integration requirements, and any other technical matters will be subsequently determined by upcoming administrative decisions. Regarding the methods of ensuring integrity and authenticity of e-invoices, the draft mandates the use of certified e-invoicing service providers or the Tax Authority’s own invoicing and transmission system.

In addition to these requirements, the Ministry's proposal also includes transitional incentives for early adopters, such as enhanced tax deductions for businesses voluntarily implementing e-invoicing ahead of the formal entry into force. To benefit from these incentives, businesses must incur the related expenses starting from the 2025 tax year, submit a formal declaration at least two months prior to the e-invoicing mandate coming into effect, and fully implement the system within that timeframe.

Conclusion

The draft does not provide any implementation timeline details, which the secondary legislations will specify. Nevertheless, with the proposed incentives, the Greek Ministry of Finance aims to reward taxable persons who adopt and implement e-invoicing before the mandatory implementation takes effect. However, it is necessary to underline that taxable persons who have already benefited from previous e-invoicing incentives are excluded from this new scheme.

Source: The Parliament, National Customs Code and other provisions, Tax Heaven, VATabout