Update: September 13, 2025
Important note: The tax changes presented are based on government announcements from September 2025 and are expected to be voted on by Parliament. The final legislation may differ from the initial proposals. Please consult the final legislation when enacted and a tax advisor.
New Greek Tax Brackets 2026: What Changes for Employees and Self-Employed
The 2026 Greek tax reform brings the most significant changes to income taxation in recent years. With the September 2025 announcements, the Greek government unveiled a comprehensive reduction package that directly affects millions of taxpayers.
Key objectives of the reform:
- Support middle incomes with reductions up to 2% in tax brackets
- Special relief for families with children
- New intermediate 39% bracket for incomes €40,000-€60,000
- Improved cash flow for self-employed with reduced prepayments
- Enhanced competitiveness compared to other European countries
The changes apply from January 1, 2026, and affect all categories of workers: employees, freelancers, and businesses.
For personalized calculation of the new 2026 taxes, use our interactive calculators:
- Gross to Net Calculator - Find your net salary from gross amount
- Net to Gross Calculator - Find the required gross salary
Key changes in 2026 taxation
Comprehensive comparison of 2025 vs 2026 tax brackets
Current Greek tax brackets 2025
The current brackets for 2025 (more details in the complete 2025 tax brackets guide):
| Income bracket | Tax rate | Annual tax (cumulative) |
|---|---|---|
| €0 - €10,000 | 9% | €900 |
| €10,001 - €20,000 | 22% | €900 + €2,200 = €3,100 |
| €20,001 - €30,000 | 28% | €3,100 + €2,800 = €5,900 |
| €30,001 - €40,000 | 36% | €5,900 + €3,600 = €9,500 |
| €40,001+ | 44% | €9,500 + 44% on excess |
New Greek tax brackets 2026
Historic reduction: All tax brackets reduced by 2 percentage points!
| Income bracket | Tax rate | Reduction | Annual tax (cumulative) |
|---|---|---|---|
| €0 - €10,000 | 7% | -2% | €700 |
| €10,001 - €20,000 | 20% | -2% | €700 + €2,000 = €2,700 |
| €20,001 - €30,000 | 26% | -2% | €2,700 + €2,600 = €5,300 |
| €30,001 - €40,000 | 34% | -2% | €5,300 + €3,400 = €8,700 |
| €40,001 - €60,000 | 39% | NEW | €8,700 + €7,800 = €16,500 |
| €60,001+ | 42% | -2% | €16,500 + 42% on excess |
Key insight: The new intermediate 39% bracket (€40,000-€60,000) replaces the direct jump to 44%, creating significant savings for middle and higher incomes.
Special family relief: Priority to children
The new tax policy places special emphasis on supporting families with children, with differentiated brackets according to the number of children.
Families with 2 children
- Special 16% rate in the €10,000-€20,000 income range (instead of 20% general rate)
- Savings: €400 annually for every €10,000 of income in this specific bracket
- Increased tax credits for children
Families with 4+ children
- Zero tax (0%) in the €10,000-€20,000 range
- Savings: €2,000 annually for €20,000 income
- Double tax credits compared to current rates
- Exemption from tax credit phase-out reduction
Young workers (under 30 years)
- Special regulations for young professionals
- Facilitated payments of taxes and contributions
- Reduced prepayments for self-employed under 30
Economic benefit comparison by family type
| Family type | €20,000 income | €30,000 income | €40,000 income |
|---|---|---|---|
| No children | -€145 tax | -€300 tax | -€406 tax |
| 2 children | -€688 tax | -€625 tax | -€800 tax |
| 4+ children | -€2,000 tax | -€2,500 tax | -€3,000 tax |
Practical calculation examples
Example 1: Income €24,000 · 2 children
Let’s examine the case of a worker with annual income of €24,000 who has two children. This represents a typical Greek family with middle income.
With the 2025 system: The tax payable, after accounting for child deductions, amounts to approximately €2,362 annually.
With the new 2026 system: Thanks to the special 16% rate for families with two children in the €10,000-€20,000 income range, the tax is reduced to approximately €1,674.
Practical result: The family saves €688 annually, which means about €57 extra each month for their needs.
Example 2: Income €35,000 · no children
Now let’s examine the case of a worker with annual income of €35,000 without dependent children. This category represents many young professionals and specialized workers.
With the current 2025 system: The annual tax for this income amounts to €5,598.
With the new 2026 arrangements: The 2% reduction across all brackets leads to a tax of €5,259.
What this means: Annual savings of €339, which is almost an extra salary every three years.
Example 3: Income €50,000 · 1 child
The third example concerns a worker with higher income (€50,000) and one child. Here we see how the new intermediate 39% bracket positively affects higher incomes.
2025 system: After deductions for the child, the tax is formed at €10,679.
New 2026 system: With the new structure and deductions, the tax is reduced to €9,618.
The benefit: Annual savings of €1,061, which corresponds to about €88 extra each month. This amount can cover a significant portion of the child’s educational expenses or boost family savings.
Comparison table of changes
| Income category | Old (2025) | New (2026) | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| €20,000 (0 children) | €1,835 | €1,690 | €145 |
| €24,000 (2 children) | €2,362 | €1,674 | €688 |
| €30,000 (1 child) | €4,137 | €3,512 | €625 |
| €40,000 (0 children) | €7,238 | €6,832 | €406 |
| €50,000 (1 child) | €10,679 | €9,618 | €1,061 |
Practical implementation guide: What you need to do now
Immediate actions for workers
Employees
- Check your salary: Use the salary calculator to calculate your new savings
- Discuss with company accounting: Ensure new withholdings will be applied from February 2026
- Plan your budget: Calculate monthly savings for better financial planning
Self-employed and freelancers
- Contact your accountant: Calculate new tax prepayments for 2026
- Review your cash flow: Reduced prepayments will improve liquidity
- Stay informed about changes: Follow tax authority guidelines for implementation
Business and employer preparation
Technical adaptations
- Accounting software updates: Software providers will release updates by end of 2025
- Payroll staff training: New withholding calculations and child deductions
- Test calculations: Execute test runs for January 2026
Legal compliance
- Accounting department training: New brackets and child deductions
- Employee communication: Explain changes and benefits to staff
- Contract review: Review employment contracts for compliance
Categories that benefit most
🥇 Maximum benefit: Families with children
- Savings up to €3,000 annually for families with 4+ children
- Double tax benefit: Reduced brackets + special deductions
- Long-term support: Stable relief for upcoming years
🥈 Significant benefit: Middle incomes (€20,000-€50,000)
- Immediate savings: €300-€1,300 annually depending on income
- Improved living standards: More disposable income monthly
- Purchasing power boost: Support for economic activity
🥉 Valuable benefit: High incomes (€50,000+)
- New intermediate bracket: 39% instead of 44% for €40,000-€60,000
- Cumulative savings: 2% reduction across all brackets
- Competitiveness: Improved tax position of Greece
Critical dates and deadlines
- December 2025: Final implementation guidelines from tax authorities
- January 2026: New tax brackets take effect
- February 2026: First reduced payroll withholdings
- March 2026: New tax prepayments for self-employed
- Spring 2027: First tax returns with new brackets (for 2026 income)
Impact on employees
New payroll withholdings
From 2026, employers will withhold smaller amounts of tax from salaries, resulting in employees seeing an immediate increase in their net salary. For more information about salary calculations, see the complete Greek salary calculation guide 2025.
Example: Employee with gross salary €1,500/month and 2 children:
- 2025: Net salary €1,280/month
- 2026: Net salary €1,350/month
- Difference: +€70/month
Impact on self-employed
Reduced tax prepayments
Freelancers and sole proprietorships will pay significantly lower tax prepayments in 2026, improving their cash flow. For those considering transitioning to a corporate structure, read the guide on when freelancers should create a company in Greece.
Practical example: Freelancer with income €30,000:
- 2025 prepayment: €1,830
- 2026 prepayment: €1,590
- Savings: €240
Implementation timeline
- January 2026: New brackets take effect
- February 2026: First reduced payroll withholdings
- March 2026: New tax prepayments for self-employed
- 2027: First tax return with new brackets (for 2026 income)
Conclusion: A historic tax reform
The biggest tax relief of the decade
The 2026 changes represent the most significant reform to income taxation that Greece has seen in recent years. For the first time in over a decade, there is a simultaneous reduction across all tax brackets, which positively affects all workers, regardless of income level.
Who wins the most
🎯 Maximum benefit for families with children:
- Savings up to €250/month for families with 4+ children
- Double tax benefit: reduced brackets + special deductions
- Long-term economic security and stability
💼 Strengthening middle incomes:
- €25-€110 extra monthly for incomes €20,000-€50,000
- Immediate improvement in living standards and purchasing power
- Incentive for professional development and income growth
📈 Support for high incomes:
- New intermediate 39% bracket creates “growth ladder”
- Competitiveness against other European countries
- Incentives for talent repatriation (brain gain)
Macroeconomic impact
- Consumption boost: €2-3 billion additional purchasing power annually
- Internal demand stimulus: Positive effects on retail and services
- Reduced tax flight: More competitive tax system
- Increased tax revenues: Through expansion of tax base
Your plan for 2026
✅ Immediate actions (October-December 2025)
- Calculate your personal benefit with tax calculators
- Contact your accountant for strategy adaptation
- Plan family budget based on new savings
📋 Medium-term planning (2026)
- Monitor monthly savings in your salary
- Utilize improved cash flow for investments or savings
- Explore new professional opportunities due to improved taxation
Final conclusions
The 2026 tax reform brings substantial changes to the Greek tax system. The reductions of two percentage points across all brackets, combined with special provisions for families with children, create a new landscape for taxpayers.
The practical result for most workers will be an increase in their disposable income. For example, a family of four with average income can see savings exceeding €100 monthly. This translates to more money for everyday needs, children’s education, or savings.
Additionally, the new intermediate 39% bracket for incomes between €40,000 and €60,000 creates a smoother transition to higher tax brackets, making the system more gradual and progressive.