Form a Greek IKE (Private Company) with EUR 1 minimum capital or an AE (joint stock) with EUR 25,000, both with EU passport on day one. Corporate tax is 22% (cut from 24% in 2022), dividend withholding 5%, and the Athens tech ecosystem has revived post reform with Endeavor, Marathon, and Big Pi anchoring a credible Eastern Mediterranean hub.
When Greece is the right call, and when it is not.
Post the 2010 to 2018 reforms, Athens has emerged as a credible tech hub: Endeavor Greece, Marathon Venture Capital, Big Pi, and Velocity Partners run an early stage funding stack, and engineering salaries are 30 to 50% of London or Berlin. The IKE form at EUR 1 minimum capital and a 22% CIT give a competitive base for Mediterranean operations.
For founders of Greek origin or operating in the wider Greek speaking world (Cyprus, Greek diaspora in US, UK, Australia, Germany), a Greek entity provides cultural fit, banking access through Piraeus, Alpha, Eurobank, and National Bank of Greece, and clean tax residency planning. Combine with Greece's 7% non dom regime for foreign source income.
Greece's tourism sector is one of Europe's largest (35M+ visitors/year), and the IKE form fits boutique hotels, short term rental managers, charter and yachting operators, and Aegean food and wine exports. VAT at 13% for accommodation and 6% for medicines and books offers reduced rates for hospitality. EU single market access plus 60 DTAs cover most export channels.
GEMI filings, AADE (Independent Authority for Public Revenue) tax returns, payroll, and most bank documentation are Greek language. English speakers are common in Athens and Thessaloniki banking and law, but documentation defaults to Greek. Translation overhead and Greek certified translator costs add friction for fully remote teams without any Greek speakers.
IKE through the One Stop Shop runs 3 to 7 business days end to end, and AE formation takes 14 to 21 days with notarial deed and capital deposit verification. That is faster than it used to be but slower than Estonia, UK, or Ireland for same week setups. Banking onboarding adds a further 2 to 4 weeks for non resident UBOs.
Working data for Greece. Cite check each figure before use.
Bundle for Greece, one invoice.
Click any question to expand the answer.
Join 500+ founders who incorporated through CorpSec.
Each rate, threshold, and deadline below is cited from an authoritative source.
Information is provided for general guidance and reflects tax year 2025 unless noted. Specific situations require advice from a local practitioner. Always confirm against the cited tax authority and registrar before relying on a figure.