IRIS: The deadline for professionals to join expires on September 2
The Independent Public Revenue Authority (AADE) is expected to send out thousands of electronic messages this week in order to remind professionals and self-employed that by September 2 they should install the direct payment system IRIS.
Despite the fact that at the beginning of August AADE proceeded to send electronic messages to more than 294,000 professionals reminding them that they must link their professional account with IRIS, the latest available information from DIAS does not broadcast optimism to achieve the goal set by September 2.
Until Friday 23 August, only 393,000 professionals and self-employed had gone through the above process, almost 50% of those obliged to register (about 800,000).
In the last 30 days (before the first e-mail was sent by AADE on August 8) the daily registration rate reached 427 professionals. Between August 8 and August 22 (after the AADE messages were sent), the average daily rate of user registrations in IRIS P2B increased fivefold, reaching 2,173 registrations.
From the beginning of the year until August 22nd the use of IRIS by professionals has increased tenfold with approximately 300,000 transactions (290,931) while the amount traded through IRIS (for all products) in the same period reaches 3.37 billion euros.
This year 5 new banks have been added to the service of IRIS P2P (between individuals) and IRIS P2B, raising the total number of banks to 12 from 7 that had it in 2023 and only 4 in 2021.
The fines
Based on the current schedule, those professionals who do not connect to the IRIS system by September 2nd will face a 1,500 euro fine.
Also in the case of complaints from citizens for non-acceptance of payments with IRIS by professionals these will be communicated by the competent bodies to the AADE and the General Secretariat of Tax Policy in order to be taken into account during the planning and carrying out of controls, under their jurisdiction.
As already announced by the Minister of National Economy and Finance Kostis Hatzidakis, until March 31, 2025 the direct payment system will be extended to all businesses. The extension covers the entire range of transactions, both electronic and physical commerce.
The IRIS System
The IVAN chosen by professionals and self-employed persons during their registration must be registered in the AADE Professional Account Register, in the digital portal myAADE www.myaade.gov.gr under Applications > Tax Services > Professional Account.
The 500 euro daily limit for transactions through IRIS is applied per client and not to the total payments that the professional can receive during 24 hours. For example, a professional can receive in one day 4 payments of 500 euros each (a total of 2,000 euros).
A fine of 1,500 euros is foreseen for those liable who do not register with IRIS by the deadline.
Through the IRIS direct payment system, customers can make payments without any commission, 24 hours a day and without the need to know the professional’s bank account number, or enter their debit or credit card details. It is enough for them to know the professional’s mobile phone or VAT number or to scan the QR code corresponding to the professional’s bank account.
Professionals receive the money instantly (in 2 seconds) even if the bank they work with is different from the client’s bank. They also pay an average of 50% lower fees compared to POS transactions.
Activation of the service is quick and easy, via web banking or mobile banking of the cooperating bank.
It is worth noting that in the previous period, Mr. Hatzidakis had addressed a recommendation to the banks to increase the daily limit for using the IRIS system for consumers, to 500 euros for transfers to individuals plus 500 euros for payments to businesses, i.e. a total of 1,000 euros per day from 500 euros which is today.