Call to End Taxation on Platform Fees
Dodecanese Member of Parliament Manos Konsolas has launched a parliamentary initiative calling for changes to the taxation framework affecting short-term rental property owners, following notifications sent by Greece’s Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE).
The notifications require property owners to submit amended tax declarations and include in their reported income the commissions and service fees retained by online platforms such as Airbnb and Booking.com.
According to Mr. Konsolas, the current legal framework results in the taxation of income that property owners never actually receive, since platform commissions are deducted before payments are transferred to hosts.
The MP argues that many owners acted in good faith by declaring only the amounts deposited into their bank accounts and had no intention of concealing income. Nevertheless, they now face additional taxes, penalties, and surcharges through the amended declaration process.
In his proposal to the Minister of National Economy and Finance, Mr. Konsolas calls for two key measures: first, the exclusion of platform commissions and charges from taxable income calculations; and second, a more flexible approach for taxpayers who acted without fraudulent intent, reducing the financial burden arising from amended tax returns.
The issue is expected to attract significant attention from Greece’s short-term rental sector, as it affects thousands of property owners who rely on digital platforms to market and rent their accommodations.
