Three Months for Greek Tourism Businesses to Install POS Devices

Photo source: ET Tech

Tourism related service providers including hotels, travel agencies and car hire businesses across Greece, have three months time to install POS (point-of-sale) devices enabling customers to pay by credit card or face penalties, according to an April 13 decision signed jointly by the finance and economy ministries.

Hotels, hospitality units, rooms to let, car and bike rentals, recreation and sea sport hire, camp grounds, travel agencies and tour operators are among a long list of businesses required by law to offer the option of POS payment to customers.

Enterprises failing to comply will be slapped with a 1,500-euro fine, reduced by half if paid within 30 days of the cited violation.

Consumer protection bodies and regional development departments among other authorities will be carrying out regular inspections, imposing fines and citing violations.

The Greek government introduced POS systems in efforts to crack down on tax evasion. Greeks are now obliged to pay by credit card for their daily transactions if they wish to qualify for tax deductions.