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Tax Authority Imposes Stricter Compliance Measures for Property Transfers

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

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.

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.

Meta’s Muse Is Outpacing ChatGPT In Early Mobile Adoption, New Data Suggests

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

Meta’s new AI app, Muse, may be emerging as one of the company’s strongest consumer launches to date. Fresh estimates from market intelligence firm Apptopia suggest the app has outperformed ChatGPT in early mobile traction, at least in the U.S. and Canada.

According to Apptopia, Muse recorded more downloads in its first 12 days on the market than ChatGPT did during the comparable period after its mobile debut. The comparison, limited to the U.S. and Canada, puts Muse’s iOS downloads at 1.8 million versus 1.3 million for ChatGPT over the same initial window.

A Strong Early Start Across Platforms

In total, Muse has reached 2.8 million global installs in its first 12 days, according to the firm. The app’s momentum also appears to be holding. After debuting at No. 2 on the U.S. App Store, Muse has since climbed to No. 1, surpassing ChatGPT, according to reporting from Business Insider. Appfigures had previously estimated that Muse crossed 1 million downloads shortly after launch.

That early rise matters because app-store performance in the first days after launch often signals whether a product can sustain consumer attention beyond initial curiosity. In Meta’s case, the data suggests Muse is not simply benefiting from novelty; it is gaining ground quickly enough to challenge the category leader.

Daily Users Show Similar Momentum

Apptopia’s estimates point to another favorable comparison for Meta: daily usage. In the U.S. alone, Muse is said to have 642,000 daily active users, well above the 231,000 ChatGPT had at the same stage of its mobile rollout.

To make the comparison fairer, Apptopia also narrowed the analysis to iOS only, since ChatGPT launched on iPhone before expanding more broadly. Even under that tighter lens, Muse still comes out ahead, with 359,000 daily active users on iOS compared with ChatGPT’s earlier figure.

Why Meta Has An Advantage

Third-party estimates are not the same as internal company data, and Apptopia cannot see Meta’s proprietary numbers. Still, even directional data suggests Muse may be on track to become a meaningful consumer product for Meta.

That possibility is strengthened by Meta’s distribution advantage. The company has already demonstrated how powerful its ecosystem can be with Threads, which surpassed 500 million users after heavy promotion across Instagram and Facebook. Muse is likely to receive a similar boost, especially because it can connect across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.

Apptopia does not track Meta’s internal promotion strategy, but its data indicates that more than 95% of Muse users are also Facebook users, while 63% are Instagram users. That overlap underscores how effectively Meta can move users across its products when it chooses to prioritize a launch.

The Strategic Test For Meta

For Meta, the early signal from Muse is less about one app’s download count than about whether the company can turn its scale into durable AI adoption. The first test is attention. The harder one is retention.

If Muse can convert early downloads into habitual use, Meta may have found a new front door into its AI ambitions. If not, the app risks becoming another example of how easily mobile hype can spike before settling back down.

Meta, which was asked for comment, has not yet released public figures on Muse’s early adoption.

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