Greece’s once notorious tax system becomes one of Europe’s most efficient; AP explains

(22 Sep 2025)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Athens, Greece – 16 September 2025
1. SOUNDBITE (English) Derek Gatopoulos, The Associated Press:
"This building used to be a busy shopping mall and ice rink. Today, it’s the engine of Greece’s financial recovery."

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Athens, Greece – 16 September 2025
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Derek Gatopoulos, The Associated Press:
++STARTS ON SHOT 3, PART OVERLAID BY SHOTS 4 AND 5++
"The Independent Authority for Public Revenue has adopted digital tools and artificial intelligence to transform the country’s public finances. After decades of deficits and a severe financial crisis, Greece is now one of a few European Union members boasting a budget surplus."
3. Sign identifying Independent Authority for Public Revenue headquarters
4. Various of operations room at a revenue authority’s facility showing screen bank with reverse of tax and customs officials monitoring
5. Wide of Greek and EU flag outside Independent Authority for Public Revenue headquarters
⁠6. SOUNDBITE (English) Giorgos Pitsilis, Independent Authority for Public Revenue Governor:
++PART OVERLAID BY SHOTS 7-8++
"We worked on it with dedication and persistence in order to change things. We introduced the continuous transaction control system, electronic invoicing, the interconnection of POS machines with cash registers, better monitoring of the whole system, more targeted audits."
7. Various interiors of Independent Authority for Public Revenue headquarters

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Athens, Greece – 17 September 2025
8. Close-up of payment being made with mobile phone

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Athens, Greece – 16 September 2025
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Derek Gatopoulos, The Associated Press:
++STARTS ON SHOT 10, PART OVERLAID BY SHOTS 11-14++
"Key to the transformation is a move away from cash to electronic transactions. That means potential tax evaders can be monitored in real-time from sophisticated operations rooms. Meanwhile, sales taxes from regular businesses are collected instantly."

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Athens, Greece – 17 September 2025
10. Close-up of customer giving cash for payment
11. Mid of transaction being rung up on cash register with receipt being issued

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Athens, Greece – 16 September 2025
12. Wide of operations room at a revenue authority’s facility showing screen bank with reverse of tax and customs officials monitoring screens

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Athens, Greece – 17 September 2025
13. Wide of owner Andreas Losifidis (left) and employee packaging eggs
14. Close-up of eggs being put in bag
15. SOUNDBITE (Greek) Andreas Losifidis, store owner:
++STARTS ON SHOT 14++
"Most (payments) are made in cash. But in the summer, because of tourism, there’s quite a bit of card use — usually for very small, minor amounts."

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Athens, Greece – 16 September 2025
16. SOUNDBITE (English) Derek Gatopoulos, The Associated Press:
++STARTS ON SHOT 17, PART OVERLAID BY SHOTS 18-20++
"The tax authority says it will fully integrate AI into its data systems next year for better-focused audits as well as better support for ordinary citizens trying to comply with their tax obligations."

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Athens, Greece – 17 September 2025
17. Wide of shoppers on commercial Ermou street
18. Close-up of person walking with shopping bags
19. People looking at shoes in shop
20. Wide of shoppers on street
STORYLINE:
For decades, Greece’s economy was defined by inefficiency and tax evasion.

Even today, in neighborhood stores, many transactions are still carried out in cash.
Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives ​​
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/
You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/4e9ad0bfb8394f428e1e4e869941c3b7

Видео Greece’s once notorious tax system becomes one of Europe’s most efficient; AP explains канала AP Archive