The Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE) is engaging in yet another extensive operation to clear its overdue debt portfolio, archiving debts worth billions of euros as they are considered practically impossible to collect.
According to the tax administration’s plan for 2026, debts worth €6 billion are to be classified as uncollectible, bringing the total amount of debts that have been written off to over €41 billion. The development reflects the magnitude of the problem the tax authority is facing with old overdue debts, many of which have remained uncollected for decades, despite efforts to locate assets and impose compulsory measures.
These are mainly debts from businesses that have ceased to operate, bankrupt companies, taxpayers who have died without their heirs accepting the inheritance, and cases of debtors who do not have visible assets or have transferred their property, making it impossible to impose seizures.
During 2025, debts amounting to €8.5 billion had already been classified as uncollectible, raising the relevant reserve to €35.06 billion. With the planned addition of new debts amounting to €6 billion in 2026, the total amount that will be in the AADE archive will exceed €41 billion, out of total overdue debts amounting to €114.5 billion.
