Tax reform

Short-term property rentals through online platforms such as Airbnb can under certain conditions be exempt from value-added tax, according to a circular issued by the Independent Authority for Public Revenue.

The government is again scrambling to pay off its dues to taxpayers and suppliers in order to meet the target set by the country's creditors.

If the target is achieved, the eurozone will approve the disbursement of a 500-million-euro subtranche that is also destined for the repayment of state arrears.

The Turkish government has signaled a value-added tax (VAT) cut to ease the recent toll hikes for Istanbul’s Eurasia Tunnel.

Farmers drove tractors through the city of Argos in the Peloponnese on Friday as unions stepped up their nationwide protests against the government's austerity program. The farmers drove past the city's central tax office, to highlight their opposition to recent tax hikes, before heading to the national highway and staging a roadblock.

The average value of heat invoices for household customers of EVN Heating Company in Plovdiv in December 2017 is BGN 80.32 with VAT, the company said.

The invoice rates for individual customer groups for December 2017 are as follows:

- 70.46% of customers have invoices up to 100 BGN (VAT included)

The Finance Ministry in Athens announced on Friday that the stayover levy imposed on all types of tourism accommodation as of January 1, 2018 will only be covered by the guests and not the hoteliers, with the 2016 law providing for the new levy set for an immediate amendment.

Shops, supermarkets and cafes didn't open on Lesvos on Wednesday as local businesses joined a general strike called by professional bodies on the eastern Aegean island and neighboring Limnos and Aghios Efstratios to protest government plans to raise value-added tax (VAT) from 17 to 24 percent as of January 1.

The reduction of value-added tax on ferry tickets would give the Greek islands an economic boost without provoking a negative fiscal impact, the Foundation for Economic and Industrial Research (IOBE) argues in a study titled "The Contribution of Passenger Shipping to the Greek Economy."

The Albanian government's plan to extend VAT to many of the country's small businesses has created confusion among business owners over the impact on their administrative costs and raised concerns about likely higher prices.

Opposition parties have slated the initiative, calling it a threat to the existence of many small businesses.

The government has opened procedures for granting concession for service on four Black sea beaches. This was reported by the government information service.

Concessionaires will be appointed after a competition organized by the Minister of Tourism and conducted by a commission appointed by the Prime Minister.

The duration of the concessions will be 15 years.