Greece vs Italy taxes (2026): dividends, CGT and income tax

Greece vs Italy tax rates at a glance

Tax	🇬🇷 Greece	🇮🇹 Italy
Income tax	First income band: 9% General top rate: 44% Rental income: 15% - 45% Dividends: 5% Interest: 15% Royalties: 20% Electronic-payment shortfall: 22%	Personal income tax: 23% - 43% Regional surtax: 1.23% - 3.33% Municipal surtax: 0% - 0.9% Employee social security: around 10% Tax on wages: withholding applies
Corporate tax	Standard corporate income tax: 22% Qualifying credit institutions: 29% Agricultural cooperatives and qualifying producer groups: 10% Corporate tax advance: 80% Pillar Two minimum effective rate: 15% Dividend withholding: 5%	Corporate income tax: 24% IRAP: 3.9% Financial sector IRAP: higher Digital services tax: 3%
Capital gains tax	Qualifying securities gains: 15% Listed-share gains: 0% / 15% Individual real-estate gains: Suspended through 2026 Listed-share sales tax: 1‰ Qualifying start-up stock options: 5%	Capital gains tax: 26% Government bonds: 12.5% Real estate gains: 0% / 26% Crypto gains: 33%
Dividend tax	Individual dividend tax: 5% Dividend withholding: 5% Standard corporate tax before distribution: 22% Simple combined company and dividend burden: 25.9% Interest withholding: 15% Royalties withholding: 20%	Dividend withholding tax: 26% Foreign dividends: 26% Corporate participation exemption: 95%
Wealth tax	General net wealth tax: 0% ENFIA building main tax: EUR 2 - 16.20/m² High-value ENFIA adjustment: Applies above EUR 500,000 Special Real Estate Tax for some legal entities: 15% Real-estate transfer tax: 3%	Net wealth tax: 0% IVIE: 1.06% IVAFE: 0.2% IVAFE on privileged regimes: 0.4%
Inheritance / estate tax	Category A: 0% - 10% Category B: 0% - 20% Category C: 0% - 40% Category A parental or bank-transferred gift: 10% above EUR 800,000 Category B cash gift: 20% Category C cash gift: 40%	Spouse and direct descendants: 4% Brothers and sisters: 6% Other relatives up to 4th degree: 6% Other beneficiaries: 8%
VAT / GST / sales tax	VAT: 24% / 13% / 6%	VAT: 22%

Who wins on each tax

Personal income taxTie

Greece tops at 44% and Italy's national IRPEF tops at 43%; regional and municipal surtaxes, social security and special regimes make the final result fact-specific.

Corporate taxGreece

Greece's standard corporate rate is 22%, below Italy's 24% IRES before the generally 3.9% IRAP layer.

Capital gains taxGreece

Greece generally uses 15% for qualifying securities gains, while Italy generally taxes capital gains at 26%; Greek listed-share and property exceptions still need checking.

Dividend taxGreece

Greece's standard dividend withholding is 5%, compared with Italy's usual 26% individual dividend rate.

Inheritance taxItaly

Italy generally applies 4%, 6% or 8% with relationship-based allowances; Greece ranges from 0% to 40% across three categories and special allowances.

The verdict

Italy's national IRPEF scale reaches 43% and Greece's general scale reaches 44%, so salary tax is close before local surtaxes, social contributions and special newcomer regimes.

Greece is the clear investment-income favorite on the standard figures: 5% dividends and generally 15% qualifying securities gains, compared with Italy's 26% rates.

Choose Greece for an investor or qualifying inbound worker; choose Italy when family succession, a larger industrial economy or an Italian-specific regime matters more. Both require careful residence, treaty and substance analysis.

How to read this comparison

Greece generally wins the recurring investment-tax comparison; Italy can be the better family or operating base. The relevant special regimes and social contributions matter more than a one-line top rate.

Frequently asked questions

Is Greece or Italy better for investors?

Greece is usually lighter on standard dividends and qualifying securities gains. Italy may still win for an investor eligible for a special regime or whose succession and business needs fit Italy better.

Is Greece or Italy better for inheritance planning?

Italy often has lower relationship-based rates, while Greece offers large allowances in some close-family cases. The heir category, estate assets and residence of the deceased must be tested.