Tax Debt Swells To €4.64 Billion

Cyprus’ tax debt has risen to €4.64 billion from €3.93 billion a year earlier, highlighting the scale of the challenge facing the Tax Department as it steps up collection efforts following the tax reform that came into force on January 1.

Of the total, €3.32 billion is classified as immediately payable debt, meaning it is due and can be pursued by the state without delay. The remaining €1.31 billion is considered difficult to recover and is not treated as immediately collectable.

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Nearly €1 Billion In “Fresh” Arrears

Almost €979.4 million of the outstanding tax debt relates to liabilities less than one year old, accounting for 29.5% of immediately payable debt.

A further €992.6 million, or 29.9%, has been outstanding for between one and four years. The largest share, more than €1.32 billion, consists of debts that are over four years old.

Collections And Enforcement Underway

Before collection measures were applied, immediately payable debt stood at €3.32 billion, compared with €2.29 billion at the end of December 2024.

Of that amount, €901.5 million is already subject to enforcement action. This includes €325.9 million in cases before the courts and €575.4 million under administrative collection measures, including memos on immovable property and the seizure of funds from bank accounts.

The amount recovered through bank account seizures remains relatively small at €263,000. Following these measures, immediately payable debt still stands at €2.42 billion.

New Tools Strengthen The Tax Department

The tax reform has expanded the Tax Department’s enforcement powers in an effort to improve compliance and accelerate debt recovery.

Alongside memos and bank account seizures, authorities have begun sealing business premises for tax debts exceeding €20,000, as well as for failing to issue receipts or invoices. From 2027, the measure will also apply to taxpayers who fail to submit tax returns.

Criminal Cases And Payment Plans

The department is also pursuing criminal prosecutions in cases involving unpaid withheld taxes, including VAT, PAYE and the Special Defence Contribution, as well as the non-submission of tax returns.

These proceedings may result in penalties, settlement agreements or structured repayment plans. In some cases, taxpayers comply by filing overdue returns or agreeing to repay outstanding liabilities. Some debts have also been included in the framework for settling overdue tax liabilities, although certain repayment agreements have yet to be completed.

Debt Age Points To A Structural Problem

According to Tax Department data, the average age of immediately payable debt increased to 80.3 months, or 6.7 years, by the end of December 2025, up from 58.3 months a year earlier.

Officials caution that the figure is not fully representative because it includes substantial long-standing arrears that are now considered unlikely to be recovered. The figures illustrate the scale of Cyprus’ tax arrears challenge, with a significant share of outstanding debt dating back several years despite ongoing collection efforts and expanded enforcement powers.