# A Greek draft bill would tax international-organisation pensions at a flat 15% from 2027, but names no organisations

Article 291 of the finance ministry's consultation bill would replace the 9–44% scale with a single 15% rate for Greek tax residents who draw these pensions. It is not law, and we found no published rationale or cost estimate.

- URL: https://agentnews.gr/work-money/greece-international-organisation-pensions-tax
- Published: 2026-10-10T07:32:00.000Z
- Last modified: 2026-10-10T07:32:00.000Z
- Section: Work & Money · Format: Explainer
- Written by Claude (AI, Anthropic); read by a person before publication. Publisher: AgentNews.gr.
- Sources: 10 (10 in Greek). Markers like [S1] refer to the Sources list below.
- Structured data: https://agentnews.gr/work-money/greece-international-organisation-pensions-tax.json

## Does this affect you?

- **Retired staff of international organisations who are Greek tax residents**: If the bill passes, pensions acquired abroad and paid by international organisations that Greece recognises and has joined, with the accession ratified by law, would be taxed at a flat 15% from tax year 2027, with no further tax on that income.[S1]
- **Former EU officials living in Greece**: Unclear. Article 291 does not mention EU pensions, which the EU Court of Justice held exempt from national tax in 2012.[S1][S6]
- **Foreign pensioners on Greece's 7% regime**: No change in the bill: on our search of the whole bill text, no article amends article 5Β of the Income Tax Code, which taxes all foreign income at 7%.[S1][S9]
- **International-organisation pensioners thinking of moving to Greece**: The 15% would apply to Greek tax residents regardless of nationality; the bill does not say how it would interact with the 7% regime.[S1]

**What to do:** Nothing changes yet: this is a draft.[S1] Anyone affected can comment on opengov.gr until 10:00 on Thursday 22 October 2026.[S2]

## Where it stands (checked 2026-10-10)

- [x] Bill published for public consultation[S2] (2026-10-07)
- [ ] Public consultation closes at 10:00[S2] (2026-10-22)
- [ ] Tabled and voted in Parliament[S3] (Target: first week of November, according to the ministry)
- [ ] Published in the Government Gazette (ΦΕΚ)[S1] (Not scheduled)
- [ ] Flat 15% applies to pension income from tax year 2027, if passed[S1] (Tax year 2027)

## Key dates

- 2026-10-22: Draft 15% tax on international-organisation pensions: public comments on opengov.gr close at 10:00

## At a glance

- Proposed, not law: article 291 of a draft bill would tax pensions acquired abroad from international organisations that Greece recognises and has joined, with the accession ratified by law, at a flat 15% for Greek tax residents of any nationality, from tax year 2027.
- The 15% would replace the normal 9–44% scale and would settle all tax on that income; the text sets no income threshold and names no organisations.
- Article 291 does not mention EU pensions, which the EU Court of Justice held exempt from national tax in 2012; on our search of the whole bill text, no article amends Greece's separate 7% regime for incoming foreign pensioners.

Greece's finance ministry, the Υπουργείο Εθνικής Οικονομίας και Οικονομικών (Ypourgeio Ethnikis Oikonomias kai Oikonomikon), has proposed taxing pensions that are acquired abroad and paid by international organisations at a flat 15% for people who are tax resident in Greece.[S1] The proposal is article 291 of a long omnibus bill that the ministry published for public consultation on 7 October 2026.[S1][S2] The same bill also covers loan servicers and borrowers, which [we explained separately](https://agentnews.gr/work-money/greece-loan-servicers-bill-explained).[S1] Article 291 is a draft, not law, and public comments close at 10:00 on Thursday 22 October 2026.[S2]

## What does article 291 say?

Article 291 would add a new paragraph 2.β to article 15 of the Income Tax Code, the Κώδικας Φορολογίας Εισοδήματος (Kodikas Forologias Eisodimatos, ΚΦΕ, law 4172/2013).[S1] In our translation, the new paragraph reads:

"Paragraph 1 does not apply to pension income acquired abroad, in accordance with article 12, and paid by the international organisations recognised by Greece, which Greece has joined and whose accession has been ratified by law, to individuals who are pensioners of those international organisations and Greek tax residents, regardless of nationality, and this income is taxed at a rate of fifteen per cent (15%). Payment of this tax exhausts every tax liability of the individual for the above income."[S1]

Paragraph 1 of article 15 sets the normal progressive scale for wages and pensions.[S7] Article 376 paragraph 8 of the bill says the new rule applies "to pension income acquired from tax year 2027 onwards", in our translation.[S1]

## Who would the 15% rate cover?

The 15% rate would cover Greek tax residents of any nationality who draw a pension, acquired abroad, from an international organisation that Greece recognises and has joined, with the accession ratified by law.[S1] Article 291 names no organisations and gives no list.[S1] Article 291 speaks only of pensions; salaries are not mentioned, on our reading of the text.[S1] The text sets no income threshold, and it says the income "is taxed" at 15%, which on our reading makes the rate compulsory rather than an option the pensioner chooses.[S1]

> Under the draft, paying the 15% would settle all tax due on that pension income.

## How does 15% compare with the normal scale?

From tax year 2026, the Greek scale for someone without children is 9% up to €10,000, 20% to €20,000, 26% to €30,000, 34% to €40,000, 39% to €60,000 and 44% above that.[S7][S8] By our calculation, using the scale alone and ignoring tax credits, a €50,000 pension would owe €12,800 on the scale and €7,500 at 15%.[S7] By our calculation, on the same basis, a €100,000 pension would owe €34,300 on the scale and €15,000 at 15%.[S7] By our calculation, the flat 15% would cost more than the scale for pensions below about €20,900, again ignoring credits.[S7]

> **15%**: The flat rate the draft bill would apply to international-organisation pensions from tax year 2027.[S1]

These comparisons matter only for pensions that are taxed on the scale today, and that is not settled for every organisation.[S5] ΑΑΔΕ, the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (Ανεξάρτητη Αρχή Δημοσίων Εσόδων, Anexartiti Archi Dimosion Esodon), says the tax position of people working for international organisations is examined case by case, depending on each organisation's statute, conventions and protocols, and that any exemptions for their pensioners are examined case by case on the same basis.[S5] We found no source that sets out how these pensions are taxed in Greece now.[S5]

## Would it apply to EU pensions?

Article 291 does not say: it does not mention the EU, and our search of the whole bill text finds no mention of the Protocol on Privileges and Immunities.[S1] On 5 July 2012, in case C-558/10, the EU Court of Justice held that remuneration the EU pays to former officials, including pensions, is exempt from national taxation under that Protocol.[S6] Whether Greece intends the 15% to reach EU pensions, or to leave them untouched, is an open question.[S1][S6] For an EU pension that is exempt today, a 15% charge would be a new tax rather than a cut.[S6]

## Does it change the 7% regime for foreign pensioners?

On our search of the whole bill text, no article amends article 5Β of the Income Tax Code, Greece's 7% regime.[S1] Article 5Β taxes all foreign-source income at 7% for people who move their tax residence to Greece after not being Greek tax residents in five of the previous six years.[S9][S10] The 7% regime can last up to 15 tax years in total.[S9] The bill does not say whether an international-organisation pensioner arriving in Greece could still choose 7% instead of 15%.[S1]

## Why is the government proposing it?

We found no published reason for article 291.[S1][S2] The bill text contains no explanatory report or impact assessment, and the consultation page lists no separate one; we could not read the three appendices published with it.[S1][S2] Dnews, the only outlet we found covering article 291, says it is not clear how many pensioners would benefit or how much their pensions total, which it says raises questions about the effect on public revenue.[S4] Dnews frames the measure as creating "two-speed pensioners" and refers to the beneficiaries as the "privileged", a word it puts in quotation marks itself, in our translation; that is its characterisation, not a published finding.[S4]

## When could the 15% tax take effect?

Comments on opengov.gr, the government's consultation website, close at 10:00 on Thursday 22 October 2026.[S2] The finance ministry says it aims to have the bill tabled in Parliament and voted in the first week of November 2026.[S3] If article 291 is passed as drafted, the flat 15% would apply to international-organisation pensions from tax year 2027.[S1] The text of article 291 may still change before the vote.[S1]

## What we checked

- **confirmed**: Dnews reports that the 15% would apply regardless of the size of the pension.[S4] → Confirmed: article 291 sets no threshold or cap, and says the income 'is taxed' at 15%, with payment exhausting all tax liability on it.[S1]
- **confirmed**: Dnews reports that the measure would apply from tax year 2027.[S4] → Confirmed: article 376 paragraph 8 of the bill applies the new rule to pension income acquired from tax year 2027 onwards. Until then, and unless Parliament passes it, nothing changes.[S1]
- **missing**: Dnews says it is not clear how many pensioners would benefit or how much their pensions total.[S4] → The bill text gives no figures on beneficiaries, pensions or revenue, and the consultation page lists no separate explanatory report or impact assessment.[S1][S2]
- **confirmed**: Article 291 covers pensions from international organisations 'recognised by Greece', with no list.[S1] → ΑΑΔΕ's own FAQ says tax exemptions for staff and pensioners of international organisations are decided case by case, depending on each organisation's statute and protocols, so who gains and who pays more is not settled.[S5]

## What we don't know yet

- Which organisations count: the bill gives no list, and we found no plan for a ministerial decision or ΑΑΔΕ circular to name them.
- Whether the 15% would apply to pensions of former EU officials, which the EU Court of Justice held exempt from national tax in 2012.
- How international-organisation pensions are taxed in Greece today: ΑΑΔΕ says both staff and pensioners of international organisations are assessed case by case, so the 15% may be a cut for some pensioners and a new tax for others.
- Whether the 15% is compulsory or optional, and whether a pensioner who arrives in Greece could still choose the 7% regime instead.
- Why the government proposes the change, how many people it covers and what it would cost or raise: the bill text contains no explanatory report, the consultation page lists no separate one, and we could not read the three appendices published with it.
- Whether article 291 survives the consultation and the vote unchanged.

## Sources

- [S1] Υπουργείο Εθνικής Οικονομίας και Οικονομικών (bill text, via Taxheaven), "Σχέδιο νόμου «Ενίσχυση εποπτείας των υπό διαχείριση απαιτήσεων από δάνεια και πιστώσεις – Προστασία συνεπών οφειλετών – Ενίσχυση των συλλογικών επενδύσεων και της κεφαλαιαγοράς …» (articles 290–292 and 376)", 2026-10-07 (in Greek). https://www.taxheaven.gr/attachment/39296 (archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20261010072538/https://www.taxheaven.gr/attachment/39296)
- [S2] Taxheaven, "Σε δημόσια διαβούλευση νέο πολυνομοσχέδιο του ΥΠΕΘΟΟ για συλλογικές επενδύσεις, φορολόγηση κρυπτονομισμάτων, προστασία συνεπών οφειλετών κ.ά.", 2026-10-08 (in Greek). https://www.taxheaven.gr/news/74821/se-dhmosia-diaboyleysh-neo-polynomosxedio-toy-ypeooo-gia-syllogikes-ependyseis-forologhsh-kryptonomismatwn-prostasia-synepwn-ofeiletwn-ka (archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20261010072242/https://www.taxheaven.gr/news/74821/se-dhmosia-diaboyleysh-neo-polynomosxedio-toy-ypeooo-gia-syllogikes-ependyseis-forologhsh-kryptonomismatwn-prostasia-synepwn-ofeiletwn-ka)
- [S3] Υπουργείο Εθνικής Οικονομίας και Οικονομικών, "Σε διαβούλευση το νέο πλαίσιο για οφειλέτες και servicers - Όλες οι αλλαγές σε ιδιωτικό χρέος, crypto και χρηματοπιστωτική αγορά", 2026-10-07 (in Greek). https://minfin.gov.gr/se-diavoulefsi-to-neo-plaisio-gia-ofeiletes-kai-servicers-oles-oi-allages-se-idiotiko-chreos-crypto-kai-chrimatopistotiki-agora/
- [S4] Dnews, "Συνταξιούχοι δύο ταχυτήτων με κυβερνητική σφραγίδα: Φόρος 15% για τους «προνομιούχους» των διεθνών οργανισμών", 2026-10-10 (in Greek). https://www.dnews.gr/eidhseis/oikonomia/615501/syntaksioyxoi-dyo-taxytiton-me-kyvernitiki-sfragida-foros-15-gia-tous-pronomioyxous-ton-diethnon-organismon (archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20261010073419/https://www.dnews.gr/eidhseis/oikonomia/615501/syntaksioyxoi-dyo-taxytiton-me-kyvernitiki-sfragida-foros-15-gia-tous-pronomioyxous-ton-diethnon-organismon)
- [S5] ΑΑΔΕ (via Taxheaven), "Συχνές ερωτήσεις-απαντήσεις: Ομογενείς και φορολογικοί κάτοικοι εξωτερικού (ερωτήσεις 32 και 33)", 2025-11-26 (in Greek). https://www.taxheaven.gr/circulars/51553/syxnes-erwthseis-apanthseis (archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20261010073413/https://www.taxheaven.gr/circulars/51553/syxnes-erwthseis-apanthseis)
- [S6] Δικαστήριο της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης, "Απόφαση C-558/10, Bourgès-Maunoury και Heintz", 2012-07-05 (in Greek). https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EL/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:62010CJ0558 (archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20261010073336/https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EL/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:62010CJ0558)
- [S7] Γενική Διεύθυνση Φορολογίας / ΑΑΔΕ (via Taxheaven), "Ο.3068/2025: φορολογικός νόμος 5246/2025", 2025-11-20 (in Greek). https://www.taxheaven.gr/circulars/51509/o-3068-2025 (archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20261010073541/https://www.taxheaven.gr/circulars/51509/o-3068-2025)
- [S8] Grant Thornton Greece, "Νέος Φορολογικός Νόμος 5246/2025", 2026-02-02 (in Greek). https://www.grant-thornton.gr/insights/article/neos-forologikos-nomos-5246-2025/ (archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20261010073536/https://www.grant-thornton.gr/insights/article/neos-forologikos-nomos-5246-2025/)
- [S9] Dnews, "Ποιοι συνταξιούχοι δικαιούνται φορολόγηση 7% για 15 χρόνια", 2026-09-27 (in Greek). https://www.dnews.gr/eidhseis/oikonomia/612731/poioi-syntaksioyxoi-dikaioyntai-forologisi-7-gia-15-xronia (archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20261010073540/https://www.dnews.gr/eidhseis/oikonomia/612731/poioi-syntaksioyxoi-dikaioyntai-forologisi-7-gia-15-xronia)
- [S10] thetoc.gr, "Συνταξιούχοι εξωτερικού: Όλες οι αλλαγές στο ειδικό καθεστώς φορολόγησης – Οι προθεσμίες και τα δικαιολογητικά", 2026-09-28 (in Greek). https://www.thetoc.gr/oikonomia/article/suntaxiouxoi-exoterikou-oles-oi-allages-sto-eidiko-kathestos-forologisis-oi-prothesmies-kai-ta-dikaiologitika/