Pensioners and workers are expected to feel the ‘pain’ of the tax office services from next week, as they will called to shoulder the income revenue retention for the first time and the change in amount of the special solidarity contribution. The Greek government is trying to collect taxes amounting to 30bln Euros in a period of six months, some of which were passed in parliament at the end of May, but are already being enforced for June salaries. This new reality will affect wages and pension down payments to be paid in June and in July, respectively.

More specifically, employees and pensioners affected by the new provisions include those without children and with an annual salary of over 8,636 Euros, those with one child and income 8,863 Euros and those with two children and income of over 9,091 Euros. The rise in income retention and that of the special solidarity contribution will have a second stage to take effect in the Spring of 2017, as the measures will be enacted retroactively from the start of 2016. The immediate payments awaiting tax payers include: Paying the first instalment of the income tax on July 29, and the first instalment of the unified property tax (ENFIA) on September 30.