The settlement of outstanding debts owed to the Greek tax administration and social security authorities is an important tool for individuals and businesses seeking to manage overdue obligations through extended monthly repayment plans.

As of 13 November 2026, however, a clear distinction must be made between two developments: the 72-instalment debt settlement scheme, which has already been activated and continues to appear on the official platforms of AADE and e-EFKA, and the new extension to up to 120 instalments, which has been enacted and published under Law 5354/2026 but has not yet been confirmed as fully operational through the official electronic services of the two authorities.

For this reason, interested individuals and businesses should assess their circumstances based on the arrangements currently available, without assuming that every option provided for under the new legislation can already be accessed in practice.

The legislative amendment is significant, but the publication of a law and the full activation of the procedures required to implement it are two separate matters.

What Currently Applies to the 72-Instalment Debt Settlement Scheme?

The scheme allowing repayment in up to 72 monthly instalments was introduced under Law 5313/2026 and became operational in July 2026.

For tax debts, the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE) announced on 18 July 2026 that the scheme had been activated, with a minimum monthly instalment of €30.

A key eligibility criterion is that the assessed tax debts must have become overdue by 31 December 2023.

According to the official announcement, these debts must not be subject to another active settlement arrangement at the time of application. Where previous settlement arrangements exist, their status is also examined, including whether they had been lost by 20 April 2026.

As of 13 November 2026, AADE’s official debt settlement webpage continues to refer explicitly to the scheme established under Article 19 of Law 5313/2026 and displays an application deadline of 31 December 2026.

This is a strong indication that, from an operational perspective, the 72-instalment scheme remains the active procedure officially presented by the tax administration.

For social security debts, e-EFKA similarly announced the implementation of the 72-instalment scheme on 2 July 2026.

The arrangement covers debts relating to periods up to 31 December 2023, provided that they were not subject to a settlement arrangement on 21 April 2026 and had not been placed under a settlement arrangement by the date of application.

The authority also clarifies that debts relating to periods from 1 January 2024 onwards are treated under a different framework for as long as the 72-instalment scheme remains applicable.

Which Debts Are Covered and Which Are Excluded?

The scheme concerns eligible debts owed to the Greek tax administration and e-EFKA or other social security authorities, subject to the specific statutory conditions.

It is not a general restructuring arrangement covering every type of private debt.

Importantly, neither the 72-instalment scheme nor the new 120-instalment extension discussed here applies to bank loans, credit cards or other debts owed to banks, loan servicers and financial institutions.

Different legal mechanisms and procedures apply to these categories of debt.

Although Law 5354/2026 also contains other provisions relating to loans and credit facilities, this does not change the scope of the articles specifically amending the settlement framework for debts owed to the tax administration and social security authorities.

Therefore, before considering an application, debts must be assessed according to the relevant authority, the period to which they relate and their existing settlement status.

The existence of an overdue debt to the Greek State or a social security authority is not, by itself, sufficient to establish eligibility. The specific conditions of the applicable scheme must also be met.

What Changes Under Law 5354/2026 and the 120-Instalment Scheme?

The most significant recent development is the enactment and publication of Law 5354/2026 in Government Gazette A’ 184/9 November 2026.

Articles 35 and 36 amend the previous 72-instalment framework and provide for an extension to up to 120 monthly instalments, covering eligible debts owed both to the tax administration and to social security authorities.

For tax debts, Article 35 introduces several important changes:

The eligibility cut-off date for overdue debts is extended from 31 December 2023 to 31 December 2024.

The maximum number of monthly instalments increases from 72 to 120.

The relevant reference date concerning the status of previous settlement arrangements changes from 20/21 April 2026 to 30 September 2026.

The statutory application deadline is extended to 30 June 2027.

Similarly, Article 36 extends the social security debt settlement framework to up to 120 instalments and expands the relevant contribution periods to include those up to 31 December 2024.

The new law also provides for the possibility of transferring debts already included in an existing 72-instalment arrangement to the new scheme, provided that the current arrangement remains active and the applicable legal requirements are satisfied.

The Greek Ministry of National Economy and Finance had already announced on 30 September 2026 that the planned extension would include a maximum of 120 instalments, a minimum monthly payment of €30, eligibility for debts up to 31 December 2024 and a final application deadline of 30 June 2027.

These key parameters were subsequently incorporated into the legislation published on 9 November 2026.

Is the 120-Instalment Scheme Already Available?

This is where particular caution is required.

The extension to 120 instalments has now been enacted into law, following the publication of Law 5354/2026 in the Government Gazette.

However, this does not mean that, as of 13 November 2026, the full operational activation of the new application procedure has been officially confirmed for all eligible applicants.

Specifically, AADE’s official debt settlement webpage continues to present the arrangement established under Law 5313/2026, together with the previous application deadline of 31 December 2026.

At the same time, e-EFKA’s official frequently asked questions continue to refer to the 72-instalment scheme, debts relating to periods up to 31 December 2023 and the eligibility conditions of the previous framework.

Furthermore, AADE’s published announcements up to 12 November 2026 do not include a newer announcement confirming the activation of a dedicated 120-instalment service.

Based on this official information, the appropriate position as of 13 November 2026 is that the 120-instalment scheme has been legislated, but its full operational activation is still awaited, while the 72-instalment arrangement continues to appear as available through the official services.

This conclusion is based on a comparison between the new legislation and the currently published information from AADE and e-EFKA. It should not be interpreted as suggesting that the new law has not entered into force.

In practical terms, individuals and businesses can begin reviewing their eligibility and outstanding debts now, but should not assume that an application under the new 120-instalment framework can already be completed before the competent authorities officially activate the relevant procedures.

What Should Individuals and Businesses Consider?

The existence of a debt settlement scheme does not mean that every outstanding obligation will automatically qualify.

Several factors may affect eligibility, including:

The type of outstanding debt.

The date on which the debt became overdue or the period to which it relates.

The existence of previous or active settlement arrangements.

The status of other overdue obligations.

Both AADE and e-EFKA have already published specific eligibility criteria for the 72-instalment scheme, while Law 5354/2026 changes several important reference dates for the forthcoming 120-instalment framework.

For individuals and businesses already participating in the 72-instalment scheme, the new legislation introduces the possibility of transferring eligible debts to a 120-instalment arrangement, subject to the relevant legal conditions.

However, existing 72-instalment arrangements do not automatically cease to apply.

Law 5354/2026 provides that previously established 72-instalment arrangements continue to be governed by the earlier framework unless the relevant debts are transferred to the new scheme in accordance with the applicable provisions.

AFS Can Manage the Debt Settlement Process on Your Behalf

Making effective use of a debt settlement scheme involves more than simply selecting the maximum number of available instalments.

It requires a careful assessment of the type and age of the outstanding debts, a review of any previous settlement arrangements and confirmation that the statutory requirements applicable to each authority are satisfied.

AFS – Athens Financial Services can manage the process on your behalf, including assessing your eligibility, organising the necessary documentation and information, and handling the overall administration and submission of the debt settlement application, based on the framework actually available at the time of application.

Our services cover both the assessment of eligibility for the currently available 72-instalment scheme and preparation for the new 120-instalment arrangement once it becomes operational.

Admission to any debt settlement scheme depends on compliance with the applicable legal requirements and approval or acceptance by the competent authority. AFS therefore cannot guarantee in advance that every applicant will qualify.

Do you have outstanding debts with AADE or e-EFKA?

AFS can assess your individual circumstances, identify the available debt settlement options and manage the process on your behalf, helping you organise and address your financial obligations through the appropriate legal framework.