Freelance professionals rally in Athens to protest government’s proposed tax reforms

By Ahmet Gencturk

ATHENS (AA) - Thousands of freelance professionals rallied Wednesday in Athens to protest the government’s proposed tax reforms.

Freelancer lawyers, notaries, small business owners, craftsmen, mechanics, veterinaries and taxi drivers, gathered in the central square of Korai before marching to the Finance Ministry building.

Protesters carried banners that suggested the new tax law would severely harm freelancer professionals and demanded it to be withdrawn.

The government wants to introduce minimum presumptive taxable income and income tax on claims that tax evasion is widespread among freelancer professionals.

Out of the 750,000 freelancers in the country, some 500,000 declared that they have incomes only from freelancing, while 250,000 claimed incomes from salaries and or pensions, according to statistics from last year.

Thirty-seven percent of freelancers paid no income tax.

About 21,000 freelancers declared incomes lower than the minimum guaranteed income limits -- €2,400 ($2,611) for a one-person household and €3,600 for a couple -- and consequently received at least €200 per month from the state.