Breaking news

Tax Authority Imposes Stricter Compliance Measures for Property Transfers

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

November 28, 2025

Under Strict Terms, Mandatory Tax Compliance Is Now a Prerequisite for Property Sales

The Tax Authority has announced that property transfers will be halted if either party remains noncompliant with their filing obligations or outstanding tax liabilities. This new measure, embedded in the legislative package of tax reform, is currently under review by the Parliamentary Finance Committee.

Legislative Framework and Strategic Adjustments

The reform package includes provisions under the Capital Gains Tax bill that empower the Tax Authority to withhold the transfer of real estate when either the seller or the buyer fails to meet their tax obligations, with the exception of disposal transactions. Officials, including Tax Official Sotiris Markidis, have indicated that the implementation will incorporate legal safeguards and transitional measures to ensure clarity and smooth adoption of the law.

Follow THE FUTURE on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and Telegram

Enhancing Fiscal Discipline and Market Stability

This regulation is poised to reinforce the discipline of the Tax Department over time by embedding a culture of fiscal compliance. By linking property transfers to tax conformity, the policy compels taxpayers to regularly submit income declarations and settle their dues, whether voluntarily or out of necessity.

Mitigating Market Disruptions With Phased Implementation

While market disruption in the real estate sector is anticipated upon the initial activation of this provision, the Tax Authority is preparing contextual safeguards. A tailored formula, soon to be presented to the Finance Committee, aims to balance enforcement with protection for buyers. The formula details exceptions for cases such as taxpayers engaged in legal disputes over tax arrears or those participating in agreed instalment plans. In these cases, outstanding liabilities may be temporarily regarded as settled until further legal review.

One-Year Grace Period for Taxpayers

Additionally, a one-year grace period has been introduced, allowing taxpayers to reconcile their tax obligations before these restrictions take full effect. Under this provision, the law’s enforcement on property transfer will be deferred until January 1, 2027, rather than the originally proposed 2026. During 2026, taxpayers will have the opportunity to file overdue returns and clear any tax arrears.

Rolling Out a Gradual Enforcement Timeline

For transactions exceeding €100,000, the phased implementation is designed to provide clarity and protect stakeholders:

From January 1, 2027, the Tax Authority may block transfers for tax arrears exceeding €1 million.
Starting January 1, 2028, the threshold will be reduced to €500,000.
Effective January 1, 2029, transfers can be halted for arrears up to €200,000.
From January 1, 2030, the limit will be set at €50,000.
Beginning January 1, 2031, the cap will be lowered to €10,000.

It is important to note that for primary residences with tax liabilities up to €500,000, these restrictions will not apply, ensuring continued access to essential housing.

Conclusion

The Tax Authority’s new measures signal a pivotal shift towards stricter fiscal compliance and refined market regulations. By ensuring that all property transactions are underpinned by robust tax compliance, the government aims to foster a disciplined tax culture while mitigating abrupt disruptions in the real estate market.

The Future Forbes Realty Global Properties

by News Editor

August 24, 2026

Courts Are Still Applying Old Copyright Rules To AI

AI companies train models on enormous amounts of published material, including books, articles and academic research. Whether using that content without authors’ permission violates copyright law remains unresolved.

Much of the debate centres on fair use, which allows copyrighted material to be used without permission in certain circumstances. Courts consider factors such as the purpose of the use, how much material was involved and its impact on the original market.

Follow THE FUTURE on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and Telegram

Anthropic Case Sets An Important Precedent

A major case involving Anthropic and a group of authors provided one of the clearest rulings so far. Judge William Alsup found that using copyrighted books to train AI models was lawful, comparing the process to people reading and studying literature before creating something new.

Anthropic was nevertheless ordered to pay $1.5 billion in a settlement. The penalty concerned books the company had obtained from illegal online libraries rather than the AI training itself.

For AI companies, that distinction could prove significant because it separates studying copyrighted material from directly copying it.

Competition Could Be The Key Issue

A case involving Thomson Reuters and Ross Intelligence offers a different perspective. A court ruled that Ross could not claim fair use after using Reuters’ copyrighted material to develop a competing AI-powered legal research platform.

The decision suggests courts may be less willing to consider AI training fair use when copyrighted content is used to build a product that directly competes with the original.

For authors, an unresolved question is whether AI-generated content should be considered competition for the works used to train these models.

The Law Has Yet To Catch Up

US copyright law predates generative AI by decades, leaving courts to apply old principles to new technology. Questions also remain over copyright protection for AI-generated works. In Thaler v. Perlmutter, a court ruled that material created entirely by AI cannot receive copyright protection.

Major AI companies remain involved in copyright litigation, and different courts could reach different conclusions. For now, there is no universal rule: the legality of AI training will depend on the circumstances of each case and how courts ultimately interpret copyright and fair use.