Several thousands Greeks submitted application requesting to be exempted from the emergency property tax or at least pay the reduced price of o,5 euro per property square meter. According to Greek Finance Ministry Information Department 39,000 property owners have already submitted their requests electronically. Furthermore, 12,000 Greeks have made relevant requests to local tax offices. Exempted from the emergency property tax are long term jobless and people with over 80% disability. Exemption or tax reduction can be granted also at the tax offices that will decided accordingly depending on the personal income criteria of the appliers.
However the dire economic situation of many households suffering from a galloping unemployment and sharp income cuts has triggers a social outrage against the extra property tax what will be paid at least until 2015.
As of today, state power company DEH is due to start cutting electricity to those subscribers who did not paid the property tax, thus for commercial properties in value zones over €2,500 per sq. m.
Last week the Finance Ministry was forced to assure taxpayers that it will not order DEH to cut the electricity after protests by civic groups, municipality mayors and even DEH-unionists.
Some association have filed against the emergency property tax at the High Administrative Court questioning the compatibility of the E.P.T. with the Constitution, as its collection through the electricity bills would deprive taxpayers from their right to have access to a public good like “the electricity”. The case will be discussed at the Court end of the month or beginning of February.
