Advertisement

Greece Β· Article 5C / 50% Exemption Β· 2026

Greece Article 5C
50% Tax Exemption Calculator

Greece's Article 5C regime exempts 50% of your Greek employment or business income from tax β€” permanently, not deferred β€” for 7 years. You pay normal Greek progressive tax (9–44%) on only half your income. This tool shows your saving versus normal Greek tax and checks whether you qualify.

πŸ”’

Zero-Retention Infrastructure

This tool runs as a standalone script with no backend server or database. The figures you enter β€” income figures and family size β€” are never transmitted to or stored on any server. All computation happens inside your browser and is discarded when you close the page.

Greek-source employment or business income. Under Article 5C, only 50% is taxed β€” at normal Greek progressive rates (9–44%). The other half is exempt. [Art. 5C ITC]

Main applicant

1 (you)

Family members included

Spouse, dependent children and dependent parents can be included in one application. Each adds government and card fees.

Independent lawyer or advisory team. Typical range €10,000–30,000 for the full process. [ARI process]

Article 5C needs: not Greek tax-resident for 5 of the last 6 years, relocation to take up a NEW Greek employment or business activity, and declared intention to stay 2+ years. Apply to AADE (generally by 31 July). [eligibility gate]

Your verdict

β€”

Tax under 5C (50% exempt)

β€”

Normal Greek tax (est.)

β€”

Make sure you capture the full 5C benefit

Article 5C has a strict application deadline (generally 31 July) and timing-of-arrival traps that can cost you a whole year. A Greek tax adviser can confirm eligibility, time your move, and file with AADE correctly.

Get matched with a Greece Article 5C tax adviser β†’
Advertisement

How to read this estimate

How Article 5C saves you money

Article 5C is refreshingly simple β€” it halves your taxable income:

  • 50% exemption β€” only half of your Greek employment or business income is taxed; the other half is permanently exempt, not deferred. Your effective rate is roughly half the normal progressive rate.
  • Scales with income β€” because Greek rates are progressive (9–44%), the higher your income, the more the 50%-off is worth in absolute terms.
  • Imputed-income relief β€” you're also exempt from Greece's deemed/imputed income rules on owning a home or car during the regime.

The calculator above shows your effective rate under 5C versus normal Greek tax, and your annual saving.

Who qualifies β€” and the timing trap

To qualify for Article 5C you need:

  • 5-of-6 years non-residence β€” not a Greek tax resident for 5 of the 6 years before you move.
  • A new Greek job or business β€” you relocate to fill a new employment position or start a business activity in Greece.
  • 2-year stay intent β€” you declare an intention to remain in Greece for at least two years.

The timing trap: when in the year you start work changes your outcome. Begin employment before early July and you can benefit for that whole tax year; start later and the benefit may shift to the following year. The application goes to AADE, generally by 31 July. Arriving even a few weeks "wrong" can cost a year of exemption β€” plan the move date deliberately.

Greece vs Spain vs Portugal vs Italy

Four EU regimes now compete for relocating professionals β€” they work very differently:

  • Greece 5C β€” 50% exemption. Half your Greek income is tax-free, taxed at normal 9–44% rates on the rest. Saving scales with income; 7 years. Strong for mid-to-high earners taking a Greek job.
  • Spain Beckham β€” 24% flat (≀€600k). Best for high earners with foreign passive income and assets (no foreign wealth tax). 6 years.
  • Portugal IFICI β€” 20% proportional. For qualifying science/tech/health roles. 10 years.
  • Italy β€” €300k fixed lump sum. Only for the ultra-wealthy (>~€700k income). 15 years.

Compare with our Spain, Portugal and Italy calculators.

Frequently asked questions

Q. Who is eligible for Article 5C?

People not Greek tax-resident for 5 of the prior 6 years who relocate to Greece to take up a new employment position or business activity, and intend to stay 2+ years. Applies to employees, executives, freelancers and entrepreneurs. File with AADE on time (generally by 31 July).

Q. Can my family join the regime?

Yes. Each family member (spouse, children, dependants) can opt in for an extra €50,000/year (2026 entrants; €25,000 for earlier ones), covering their own foreign income under the same flat regime. This calculator adds it to your total.

Q. How long does Article 5C last?

Up to 7 consecutive tax years, with no possibility of extension. If you stop your Greek employment or business activity for more than 12 months during the period, you lose the benefit from that year onward.

Q. Does 5C cover my foreign income?

No β€” Article 5C only halves your GREEK employment/business income. Foreign income is taxed under normal Greek rules. If your wealth is mainly foreign/passive, look instead at Greece's 5A non-dom (€100k flat on foreign income) or 5B retiree (7% on foreign pension) regimes.

Sources: Greece Article 5C of the Income Tax Code (Law 4758/2020); Greek progressive income tax brackets (Law 5246/2025, 9–44%); AADE application guidance. Normal tax shown is a simplified estimate excluding certain contributions and deductions. This is an independent informational tool, not tax, legal or immigration advice. Verify all figures, the application deadline and eligibility with a licensed Greek tax adviser before relocating.

Advertisement
Report an issue

Report an issue

Spotted outdated fees or a rule change? Every report is reviewed.

βœ“ Sent. Thank you.