Bill this month to ease tax load

Easing the pressure on taxpaying households and businesses is the top priority for Greece's new finance minister, Christos Staikouras said on Tuesday as he took over the portfolio, adding that this will be evident in the first tax bills later this month.

Straight after a vote of confidence in Parliament on July 22, the Finance Ministry will table a new tax bill whose cost is seen coming up to 6 billion euros over the next three years. The bill is expected to be voted into law by August 10.

Sources say the draft law will include all the amendments and measures that New Democracy had promised before the election, such as change to income tax rates for corporations and households, and a reduction to the rates of the Single Property Tax (ENFIA) and value-added tax (VAT). Apart from the reduction in tax rates, amendments will also include the maintenance of the income tax...