Tax residency and investing in Greece

If you spend over 183 days a year in Greece (or your centre of life is here), you’re a Greek tax resident and taxed on your worldwide investment income — including from foreign brokers, which you must declare. There are special opt-in regimes for incoming residents (a 7% flat rate for foreign retirees, a non-dom flat tax, and a 50% income exemption), each with conditions.

The 183-day rule

you’re a Greek tax resident if you spend more than 183 days in Greece in a year, or your centre of vital interests is there. A resident is taxed on worldwide investment income; a non-resident only on Greek-source income.

What that means in practice

as a resident, dividends, interest and gains from foreign accounts and brokers are taxable in Greece and must be declared on your annual return — they aren’t withheld for you the way a Greek bank withholds. Under the international CRS exchange, AADE typically already receives this data. Where foreign tax was withheld abroad, a double-tax treaty usually lets you credit it so you aren’t taxed twice (Greece has a wide treaty network).

Special regimes for incoming residents (opt-in, with conditions):

7% flat tax for foreign retirees — pensioners moving their tax residence to Greece can elect a 7% flat rate on foreign-source income, for up to 15 years.
Non-dom flat tax — high-net-worth new residents can elect a flat €100,000/year on foreign income (with a minimum investment of around €500,000), for up to 15 years.
50% income exemption (Article 5C) — qualifying new residents taking up employment or self-employment in Greece can have 50% of that income exempt for up to 7 years.

These are opt-in regimes with eligibility conditions — get professional advice before assuming you qualify.

US citizens

the US taxes its citizens on worldwide income regardless of residence, with FBAR/FATCA reporting on foreign (Greek) accounts; foreign tax credits are used to avoid double taxation. If this is you, take specialist advice.

What you need to file

an AFM and TaxisNet credentials for the online return, and a tax-residency certificate where you’re claiming treaty relief.

How not to get cheated

the worst outcome here is unintended non-compliance — assuming a foreign broker “handles it”, or that foreign accounts are invisible. They’re not (CRS). Declare worldwide income openly, claim treaty credits to avoid double tax, and check whether one of the incoming-resident regimes legitimately lowers your bill. Diversification done with full disclosure is fine; hiding income is not (see diversification).

investment tax · diversification · brokerage access · AFM (tax number)

This is general information, not tax advice. Residency rules and special regimes have specific conditions and change — confirm with AADE (aade.gr) or a tax adviser. WTP Finance is informational only.

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