More than 50.000 citizens have seen the tax office withhold parts of their savings against arrears to the state. Not even deposited unemployment benefits have escaped seizing.
There is a 130 per cent rise in the requests received and executed since the beginning of the year. The reason for deposit confiscations skyrocketing has been an increased effort by the government to prop up state income.
According to newspaper “Ta Nea”, the confiscations have been ordered against total arrears of €60 bln. All kinds of bank accounts are fair game to the state, including salary accounts. There have been even cases of unemployment benefits seized, even though the law is adamant about it being out of limits.
The State Income Collection Code states that seizing of salaries, pensions and benefits up to €1000 net that are regularly received by citizens with arrears to the state, cannot be seized. Regarding amounts over €1000, up to 25% can be withheld, provided that not less than €1000 remains with the individual.
Banking sources have admitted that there are indeed mishandled requests that have resulted in seizing deposits that were off-limits.