When moving to Greece, already living in Greece and completing your first tax return, or needing to declare your global income in Greece, you will more than likely need to find an English-speaking accountant.
The accountant will help you navigate the relatively complicated Greek tax system. You will need to find someone that speaks English and preferably someone that deals with the country you from so they know the specific documentation required.
A basic knowledge of Greek Taxes
Firstly, you will need to know the basics of the Greek tax system in order to speak with your accountant. This will help you understand what they are talking about in any initial meeting and give you more confidence when speaking with a new accountant.
Feel free to read our guide on Greek tax in order to gain a basic understanding of tax in Greece. Most of our free information will also help you answer some of the basic questions you have for free!
Find an accountant that speaks your language or at least a common language
It’s important to look for and find an accountant that speaks enough English (or other language) for you to be able to discuss financial matters with. This is different so speaking enough English to have a general conversation. They need to be fluent in English so they can communicate with you and you can provide instructions to them.
It’s a good idea to have an initial conversation with them, prior to engaging them, in order to talk about your situation and needs.
If you speak German or French or another language, it’s possibly to find an accountant that speaks your language. If not, use a common language such as English to communicate with if your Greek is not strong.
Do I need a tax representative in Greece?
Generally speaking, for expats (and most Greeks) yes you do. As taxes in Greece are generally quite complicated. Some of the tasks and activities a tax representative will do for you include:
- Legal representation: They will be your legal representative, particularly for non-resident individual or foreign entities that need to liaise with the Greek tax authorities. They can handle all formal communications with the tax office.
- Make applications for you such as applying for a TIN or AFM or translating and submitting key documentation.
- Ensure you comply with key regulations including tax filing and tax payments
- Liaising with the tax office and monitoring your registered email.
- Being your registered address for correspondence in Greece – particularly if you are based overseas.
- Advising you on your tax obligations and assisting with transferring your tax residence to Greece.
- Providing your taxisnet details and credentials. A tax representative can help you open your taxisnet account, provide your username and password and even carry out other official tasks.
Do I need to use a tax representative from Athens or can they be from anywhere in Greece?
You can use a tax representative anywhere in Greece. It depends on how complicated your situation is. We are based in Athens and mostly help people in Athens but we have many expat clients on the mainland as well as in the islands. Location doesn’t matter and our services are mostly remote. However, if you find a local accountant you are comfortable with and prefer to deal with people face to face, then it’s generally a good idea to find someone local.
Sometimes our team is called upon to provide expat specific advice.
How to find a tax representative or accountant in Greece?
It’s a good idea to talk to other expats or ask for recommendations. That is always a good place to start – especially if they have had a good experience. Alternatively, you can search by:
- Searching ‘English speaking accountant or Greek Accountant for Expats’ in Google
- Conducting a local search in your area on google maps for an accountant and then asking if they have expat experience.
- Speak with our team about your accounting needs.
If you would like to speak with our consultants make an enquiry today. We can also help you find a local accountant from our network, depending on where you are based in Greece. Our team of accountants don’t speak German, and a number of other languages, however, we have accounts and other professionals in our network who speak those languages who we can help refer you to.
Client testimonials
Tsaks Consulting are a realiable and approachable service provider. They have accounting partners who are experts in expat matters, know and understand the laws and keep up to date with them all. The accounting partner that we worked with was responsive, specialised and easy to deal with. They respond to all your email and provide a transparent service. I would recommend them, as well as the team at Tsaks Consulting, to anybody who is looking for an accountant in Greece particularly if you are an expat, are from overseas or live overseas. They are resonsive and professional.
Lisa | Expat Living in Greece | Athens and London
Thank you Tsaks Consulting. You certainly took the stress out of the tax and accounting process. Your partner accountant was great. Since moving to Greece there has been a fair bit of uncertainty tax and regulatory wise. You have assisted us with the regulation side of things which is very challenging and all your guidance is appreciated. You are an excellent team and have always been very quick to respond to our request and we know you are reliable. I would recommend you to anybody moving to Greece that needs assistance with tax, law, whatever really.
Luke B | Expat living in Greece | Thessaloniki and Israel