A staggering leap in electronic transactions has been revealed by the mandatory linkage of POS systems with cash registers, exposing €6.6 billion in “hidden” revenue in the market in 2024. In some sectors, the value of transactions now officially declared has skyrocketed by over 600% compared to 2023, somewhat vindicating those who argued that cash payments functioned as a “black hole” in taxation.

The largest increase was recorded in industries where cash payments had been the norm. Electronic transactions in taxis tripled, jumping from €26 million in 2023 to €79 million in 2024. Despite initial strong resistance, the mandatory use of POS systems was fully implemented, making card payments the new reality.

Even more impressive was the surge in car wash transactions, where electronic revenue shot up from €11.2 million to €80.2 million. This shift underscores the sheer scale of undeclared income in previous years.

It is also worth noting that, starting in March, a digital customer log will be introduced, making it mandatory to record the entry and exit of vehicles from professional facilities such as car washes, parking lots, repair shops, and rental agencies. Through this new tool, every vehicle entering a facility will be automatically registered in the AADE (Independent Authority for Public Revenue) system, while the payment receipt will be transmitted directly to the tax registry, ensuring that all transactions are declared.

A dramatic shift was also observed in legal services, where transactions via POS jumped from €11.3 million in 2023 to €45 million in 2024. The legal profession, which traditionally relied heavily on cash payments, has now transitioned almost entirely to electronic payment methods.

Similarly significant changes were recorded in other freelance professions. Dentists saw an increase in electronic payments from €206 million to €248 million, while doctors witnessed their declared electronic transactions rise from €356 million to €391 million.

Now, additional sectors are being targeted, including private clinics, tutoring centers, hair salons, and technical services, where the share of electronic payments remains low.