The “digital eye” is coming to automobiles, recording in real time what is being moved, paid for and “cut off” in parking lots, car washes and rentals.

The Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE) is activating a new control tool in the coming days that brings radical changes to the car industry. The digital customer register becomes mandatory for businesses such as car parks, car washes, garages and car rental companies, with the aim of cross-checking transactions in real time and combating tax evasion.

With the new application, every vehicle entering or leaving these businesses will be electronically recorded, while its details will be directly correlated with the receipt issued.

The new system is a game changer, as it allows the AADE to have an immediate view of transactions without the need for physical checks. Businesses will be required to declare a registration number, customer details where required, and the receipt associated with each transaction. The application will initially operate via the AADE website, and a mobile app will soon be made available, making the process even easier to use.

The mandatory registration applies to all businesses related to vehicle rental and servicing, while the requirements will be particularly strict for car rental companies, which will have to declare not only the registration number but also the type of vehicle, the purpose of its use, as well as the point of pick-up and return.

The application is not limited to just recording transactions but gives the Inland Revenue Department the ability to identify suspicious cases of tax evasion in real time. If a business shows a small number of customers over a long period of time, the system will “wonder” how it manages to cover its operating costs and maintain its staff.

The cross-checking of data will be done automatically, so that businesses with low or irregular activity will be targeted for audits. The new digital tool reduces paperwork, automates customer management and allows transactions to be linked to documents, but at the same time closes any loopholes for “loose” transactions without receipts.

The governor of the AADE, Giorgos Pitsilis, revealed that the digital clientele will not stop here. It will soon be extended to other industries, with banquet estates being the next target. As he humorously mentioned, the recording of guests at banquets will be implemented “so that we don’t go to weddings uninvited.”