- There is no official exhaustive list of expenses that “pass”.
- The main rules are found in Articles 22 and 23 of Greek Law 4172/2013.
- An expense must have a genuine business connection, represent a real transaction, be recorded and be properly evidenced.
- An invoice or a myDATA transmission is not enough by itself.
- Income-tax deductibility and input-VAT deductibility are separate questions.
- Mixed private/business costs need a reasonable, documented allocation.
- Cars, meals, hospitality, fines and private purchases are subject to specific restrictions.
An expense may reduce taxable profit even when its VAT cannot be recovered. Passenger-car costs are the classic example: business deductibility is considered under Articles 22–23, while input VAT on purchase, fuel, maintenance or leasing is normally restricted by a separate VAT rule.
1. What does “tax-deductible” mean?
A deductible expense reduces taxable profit; it does not reduce tax euro for euro. Revenue of €30,000 less €8,000 of qualifying expenses gives €22,000 before other tax adjustments. The €8,000 reduces the tax base rather than creating an €8,000 tax saving.
2. Article 22 conditions
The expense must be incurred in the business interest or ordinary course of business, represent a genuine transaction, be entered in the accounting records, be supported by appropriate evidence and not be disallowed by Article 23.
3. What does Article 23 disallow?
Key categories include private consumption, income tax, fines and penalties, unpaid social-security contributions, non-genuine transactions and expenses paid incorrectly where banking payment is mandatory. Entertainment, food, accommodation and hospitality also have specific limits. This is not an exhaustive list.
4. What evidence is required?
For ordinary B2B purchases, request an invoice in the business details. Evidence depends on the category and may also include a contract, ticket, toll receipt, bank transaction, lease or other lawful record. The correct rule is “appropriate evidence”, not “nothing is deductible without an invoice”.
5. Does myDATA make the expense deductible?
No. Transmission confirms that data reached the platform; it is not a tax audit. Business purpose, evidence and Articles 22–23 still apply.
6. Business premises rent
Rent for genuine business premises is generally deductible when the lease is properly declared and the premises are used by the business. Rent must be paid electronically or through a banking channel under its specific payment rule, regardless of the general €500 threshold.
7. Home office
Electricity, internet, landline, shared building costs and heating are often mixed costs. Only a reasonable business portion should be claimed, supported by floor area, duration and intensity of use, and the nature of each cost.
For an 80 m² home with a separate 12 m² office, floor area may support an allocation but does not automatically make 15% of every bill deductible. Likewise, one third is not a statutory safe percentage for every home business.
8. Internet and phones
A dedicated business connection is easier to support. Mixed private/business use needs a reasonable allocation. There is no safe general rule that a mobile phone is “always 50% deductible”.
9. Laptops, phones, monitors and fixed assets
A purchase may be a current expense or a depreciable asset. Computers and software have a 20% tax depreciation rate. An asset with depreciable value below €1,500 may be depreciated fully in the acquisition year. A €1,200 business laptop may therefore be fully depreciated, while a €2,000 laptop normally follows the category’s depreciation schedule.
10. Cars: the most common confusion
Income tax
Fuel, servicing, repairs, insurance, tolls, parking and lease costs are tested under the general business-purpose rules. The old blanket 70%/35% approach is not the current test. Mixed use requires a documented allocation.
VAT
For an ordinary passenger car with up to nine seats, VAT on purchase, fuel, repairs, maintenance and leasing is generally not deductible. Statutory exceptions include relevant vehicle sale or rental businesses and passenger transport for consideration.
11. When can fuel VAT be deducted?
| Case | Fuel VAT |
|---|---|
| Consultant’s passenger car | Generally no |
| Leased passenger car | Not merely because it is leased |
| Commercial truck used in taxable business | Generally yes, subject to normal conditions |
| Taxi | Yes, where legal conditions are met |
| Rent-a-car fleet | Yes for relevant qualifying use |
12. Car leasing
The lease expense may reduce business profit where the vehicle genuinely serves the activity. VAT on an ordinary passenger-car lease is generally blocked. Leasing also does not automatically remove every imputed-income consequence; the contract and liable user must be examined.
13. Business travel
Flights, ferries, rail, taxis, hotels, vehicle rental, tolls and other travel may qualify with a specific business purpose and proper evidence. A planned client meeting can support the cost; a leisure trip does not become business travel because one call was made. VAT on accommodation, meals and passenger transport is a separate issue and is often restricted.
14. Meals, coffee and hospitality
An owner’s daily coffee or meal remains private consumption. Genuine hospitality, events or client meals need a documented business purpose and remain subject to Article 23 restrictions; a client’s presence does not make every meal deductible.
15. Accountants, lawyers and advisers
Accounting, tax, legal, business, engineering and IT services are ordinary qualifying costs when they serve the business and are properly evidenced.
16. Software, SaaS, domain and hosting
Microsoft 365, Adobe, CRM, ERP, antivirus, cloud, AI tools, hosting and domains may qualify when genuinely used in the activity. For foreign suppliers, check supplier country, VAT status, reverse charge and VIES for relevant intra-EU services.
17. Advertising
Google Ads, Meta Ads, websites, SEO, design, branding, printing and promotional material are generally business expenses when they promote the activity. Foreign-platform invoices require correct business details and reverse-charge review; not every foreign supplier requires VIES.
18. Foreign purchases and VIES
The EU and third countries are different. Software from an Irish company may be an intra-EU service subject to reverse charge and VIES. Software from a US company does not use VIES merely because the supplier is foreign.
19. e-EFKA contributions
Paid compulsory social-security contributions are deductible in the tax period recognised by the applicable rules. Unpaid contributions are not deductible while outstanding; late payment requires a check of the actual payment period.
20. Payroll and employer contributions
Salaries, employer contributions, bonuses and lawful benefits may qualify. Payroll has its own electronic-payment rule and is not tested only by the general €500 threshold.
21. Banks, POS and other operating costs
Bank charges, POS and payment-gateway fees, foreign-exchange costs, courier, postage, freight and logistics qualify when connected to the activity. Business liability, equipment and premises insurance may also qualify; purely private insurance does not.
22. Memberships and training
Chambers, professional bodies, databases, journals, online platforms, conferences, certifications and training may qualify where materially connected with the existing activity. Tax training for an accountant or Adobe training for a designer is directly relevant; unrelated personal education is not.
23. Clothing
Ordinary clothing and suits capable of private use are not automatically business expenses. Specialist uniforms, personal protective equipment and genuine branded workwear are assessed differently.
24. Interest, R&D and employee benefits
Business financing interest is subject to specific restrictions; a personal loan is not automatically deductible. Qualifying scientific and technological R&D may receive enhanced deduction under Article 22A with special evidence. Employee meal vouchers have their own tax and social-security conditions.
25. Payments above €500
A purchase of goods or services above €500 may be disallowed when not settled through the required banking method. Business rent and payroll have stricter special electronic-payment rules regardless of the general threshold.
26. Summary: non-deductible costs
| Cost | General treatment |
|---|---|
| Private shopping, meals or coffee | Not deductible |
| Income tax | Not deductible |
| Fines and penalties | Not deductible |
| Unpaid social contributions | Not deductible while unpaid |
| Non-genuine or unrelated transaction | Not deductible |
| Insufficient evidence | May be rejected |
| Incorrect payment method | May be disallowed |
27. Ten practical examples
1. €1,200 laptop
Profit: yes if business-use; full depreciation may be available. VAT: yes if the business has recovery rights.
2. €2,000 laptop
Profit: through depreciation. VAT: generally yes. Keep a fixed-asset record.
3. Daily €4 coffee
Profit/VAT: no as private consumption.
4. €300 Google Ads
Profit: yes for real promotion. VAT: check reverse charge and VIES.
5. Passenger-car fuel
Profit: documented business portion only. VAT: generally no.
6. Commercial-truck fuel
Profit: generally yes. VAT: potentially deductible with qualifying use.
7. Home internet
Profit/VAT: reasonable business portion; no automatic one-third rule.
8. Client-trip hotel
Profit: potentially yes. VAT: separately restricted.
9. Economist’s suit
Profit/VAT: generally no because ordinary private use is possible.
10. Accountant’s tax seminar
Profit: generally yes. VAT: depends on the service’s VAT status.
28. Main categories
| Category | Income tax | VAT | Main condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent | Generally yes | Depends on lease | Business premises and electronic payment |
| Utilities / phones | Business portion | Eligible portion | Documented allocation |
| Laptops / furniture | Expense or depreciation | Generally yes | Business use |
| Software / ads | Generally yes | Recovery or reverse charge | Correct supplier treatment |
| Passenger car / fuel / lease | Business portion | Generally no | Use evidence and VAT restriction |
| Commercial truck | Generally yes | Potentially yes | Taxable business use |
| Travel / hotels | Business purpose | Special restrictions | Full evidence |
| Meals | Conditional | Usually restricted | Not private consumption |
| Advisers | Generally yes | Generally yes | Business service |
| e-EFKA | When paid | No VAT | Payment period |
| Payroll | Generally yes | No VAT | Lawful electronic payment |
| Banks / POS / courier | Generally yes | Depends on service | Business connection |
| Insurance | Business cover | Depends on regime | Not private insurance |
| Memberships / training | Generally yes | Depends on service | Professional relevance |
29. Checklist before recording an expense
✓ Does it genuinely concern the business?
✓ Is the transaction real?
✓ Is there appropriate evidence?
✓ Was it recorded correctly and paid correctly?
✓ Is there private use requiring allocation?
✓ Is it a fixed asset requiring depreciation?
✓ Does it reduce profit?
✓ Is input VAT also recoverable?
✓ Does Article 23 impose a special restriction?
30. Related guides
See Starting a Sole Proprietorship in Greece, Sole Proprietorship or P.C.C. and Freelancing with an Invoice (“Blockaki”). Employee-like “Blockaki” tax treatment can affect the expense analysis.
Frequently asked questions
Which expenses can I deduct?
Genuine, documented business costs that meet Articles 22–23.
Is an invoice enough?
No. Business purpose and every legal condition must also be met.
Does myDATA approval mean tax deductibility?
No. myDATA transmission is not a tax ruling.
Can I deduct home electricity?
Only the reasonable documented business portion.
Is one third always deductible for a home office?
No. There is no universal statutory percentage.
Can I deduct my phone and internet?
The business portion may qualify; mixed use requires allocation.
Can I deduct a laptop?
Yes when used in the business, directly or through depreciation.
When is depreciation required?
When the purchase is a fixed asset; assets below €1,500 may be fully depreciated in the acquisition year.
Are passenger-car fuel and service deductible?
The documented business portion may reduce profit.
Can I recover passenger-car fuel VAT?
Generally no, except for statutory exceptions.
Does leasing make VAT deductible?
No. Passenger-car restrictions normally remain.
Are tolls deductible?
When connected with evidenced business travel.
Can a business-trip hotel be deducted?
It may reduce profit; VAT is assessed separately.
Is a client meal always deductible?
No. It requires genuine business purpose and remains subject to restrictions.
Is daily coffee deductible?
Not when it is private consumption.
Are professional seminars deductible?
Generally yes when materially related to the current activity.
Are Google and Meta Ads deductible?
Generally yes, with correct invoice and reverse-charge/VIES treatment.
What about foreign software?
Check supplier country, VAT number, reverse charge and VIES.
What is VIES?
The EU VAT validation and reporting system for relevant intra-EU transactions.
What if I pay an invoice above €500 in cash?
The expense may be disallowed.
Are social contributions deductible?
Paid contributions are deductible under the applicable timing rule.
Is income tax deductible?
No.
Are fines deductible?
No.
What is the difference between expense and VAT deductibility?
An expense reduces taxable profit; input VAT is recovered only under separate VAT rules.
Unsure whether an expense is deductible?
Treatment depends on the cost, its business connection, evidence, payment method and often different income-tax and VAT rules.