MyDATA Greece: Guide for Vacation Rental & Hotel Managers
If you manage a vacation rental, hotel, or short-term rental property in Greece, MyDATA is not optional. It has been mandatory for all Greek businesses since 2021, and the penalties for non-compliance start at 5.000€ with no grace period. Most property managers understand they need to comply. Far fewer understand exactly what compliance requires, or which of the two separate Greek tax systems actually applies to their situation.
This guide covers both: what MyDATA is, who it applies to, how it differs from the Short-Term Rental Declaration system, what the penalties are, and how to automate the process so you stop logging into government portals after every checkout.
What Is MyDATA?
MyDATA (My Digital Accounting and Tax Application) is the mandatory electronic accounting platform operated by Greece’s Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE). It digitizes the way Greek businesses record income and expenses, replacing paper-based bookkeeping with structured electronic records transmitted directly to the tax authority.
Every invoice, receipt, and credit note must be reported to MyDATA in real time using a specific XML format. When a submission is accepted, AADE returns a unique confirmation code called a MARK (Μοναδικός Αριθμός Καταχώρισης), which serves as proof that the document was officially registered.
MyDATA covers all businesses required to maintain accounting records under Greek law, regardless of size, business type, or whether transactions are B2B, B2C, or B2G.
MyDATA vs. Short-Term Rental Declaration: What’s the Difference?
This is the most common point of confusion for property managers in Greece, and the article that originally prompted this guide mostly skipped over it. There are two separate compliance systems, and which one applies to you depends on how many properties you manage and your legal status.
| MyDATA (Prohost) | Short-Term Rental Declaration (Non Prohost) | |
|---|---|---|
| Who it applies to | Professional hosts: 3+ properties, legal entities, businesses | Individuals with 1–2 properties renting as passive income |
| Platform | MyDATA (mydata.aade.gr) via certified e-invoicing provider | AADE Short-Term Rental Registry (aade.gr/brahyhronia-misthosi-akiniton) |
| What you submit | Certified e-invoices in XML format | Short-Term Stay Declaration (Δήλωση Βραχυχρόνιας Διαμονής) per booking |
| VAT | 13% applies to accommodation services | Not applicable (passive rental income) |
| Deadline | Per transaction, in real time | By the 20th of the month following checkout |
| Income classification | Business income | Real estate rental income |
| Min. fine for non-compliance | €5,000 or 50% of annual revenue | €5,000 or 50% of annual revenue |
| Integration partner | Certified AADE provider (e.g., Invopop) | Direct portal submission or automated via scraping |
| Chekin feature | Certified Invoices — Prohost | Certified Invoices — Non Prohost |
The legal framework for both is Article 111 of Law 4446/2016, as updated by Law 5073/2023, which tightened compliance requirements and increased penalties for the short-term rental sector specifically.
Who Must Comply with MyDATA?
MyDATA applies to every Greek business or self-employed individual required to maintain accounting records under Greek Accounting Standards. For the hospitality and short-term rental sector, this means:
- Hotels and accommodation businesses of all sizes
- Vacation rental property managers operating as a business (typically 3+ properties)
- Legal entities (companies, agencies) managing short-term rental portfolios
- B2B transactions between property managers and OTAs or service providers
- Any host whose rental income is classified as business income rather than passive rental income
If you manage 1–2 properties as an individual, your income is classified as real estate income under Greek law, and you fall under the Short-Term Rental Declaration system rather than MyDATA proper. The compliance obligation is equally strict; it just runs through a different platform.
If you manage 3 or more properties, or operate through a legal entity, or provide additional services beyond basic accommodation (cleaning, meals, airport transfers), your income is classified as business income and full MyDATA compliance applies, including VAT at 13%.
MyDATA Penalties for Non-Compliance
Under Law 5073/2023, penalties for non-compliance with Greek short-term rental tax obligations are:
- Unregistered property or missing declarations: Administrative fine equal to 50% of gross annual income from that property, with a minimum of €5,000
- No corrective action within 15 days of receiving official notification: the fine doubles
- Inaccurate or missing Short-Term Stay Declaration: Fine equal to double the nightly rate listed on the booking platform at the time of inspection
To put that in concrete terms: if a property earns €30,000/year and you miss MyDATA registration, the fine is €15,000. If you don’t act on the notification within 15 days, it becomes €30,000. If a single booking declaration is missing and AADE inspects while the listing shows a €200/night rate, the fine for that booking is €400.
These aren’t theoretical risks. AADE has been increasing cross-referencing between Airbnb, Booking.com, and tax records since 2023.
How MyDATA Works: The Technical Flow
For professional hosts subject to full MyDATA compliance, the process works like this:
1. Data capture Guest and booking data is pulled from your PMS (property management system) or entered manually. This includes accommodation dates, total amount charged, VAT breakdown, and any additional services.
2. Document generation An invoice or receipt is generated in the XML format required by the MyDATA API. The document must include the correct tax category, VAT rate (13% for accommodation), and submission category (e.g., “Accommodation Services”).
3. Transmission to AADE The document is transmitted to the MyDATA platform via AADE’s REST API. This happens in real time — there is no monthly batching for invoices.
4. MARK code receipt AADE returns a MARK code (Μοναδικός Αριθμός Καταχώρισης) confirming the document was officially registered. This code must be stored and can be referenced in audits. Under Greek law, you must keep all MARK codes and e-books for at least five years.
5. E-books update AADE automatically updates two electronic books: the Detailed Entries Book (every individual transaction) and the Summary Book (monthly and annual totals). These are what tax inspectors examine during audits.
How the Short-Term Rental Declaration Works
For non-professional hosts (1–2 properties, individual ownership), the process is different:
1. Register your property and obtain an AMA Every property listed on a digital platform must be registered in the AADE Short-Term Rental Registry. Registration generates a Property Registry Number (A.M.A. — Αριθμός Μητρώου Ακινήτου), which must be displayed on every listing.
2. Submit a declaration after each checkout After every guest departure, you must submit a Short-Term Stay Declaration including: guest arrival and departure dates, total rent agreed, payment method, booking platform, and the guest’s Greek TIN (for Greek citizens) or full name and passport number (for foreign guests).
3. Deadline: 20th of the following month If a guest checks out on April 12, the declaration must be filed by May 20. Missing this deadline triggers penalties.
4. Cancellations and year-crossing bookings Cancelled bookings that include a cancellation fee must still be declared. If a booking runs across December 31st/January 1st, two separate declarations are required — one per tax year — with the total amount split proportionally by number of nights.
MyDATA for Airbnb and Booking.com Hosts
Whether you list on Airbnb, Booking.com, Vrbo, or any other platform, the compliance obligation is the same. The platform doesn’t file on your behalf. You remain responsible for submitting declarations and, where applicable, MyDATA e-invoices for every booking.
One practical issue that comes up constantly: collecting guest data for the declaration. Greek citizens need to provide their TIN (ΑΦΜ). Foreign guests need to provide their passport number. Many hosts report that guests either don’t respond to data requests or provide incorrect information — and filing with wrong data carries the same penalty as not filing at all.
This is one of the main reasons automation matters here. When guest data collection happens at online check-in (before arrival), completion rates are substantially higher than when you try to collect it after checkout.
OTA Commissions and MyDATA: The Commission Rules Problem
For professional hosts using Booking.com or Expedia, there’s an additional complexity: OTA commissions are often embedded in the guest price rather than invoiced separately. This means your declared revenue is higher than your actual payout, which can distort your VAT base if not handled correctly.
MyDATA handles this through Commission Rules — a configuration that lets you specify the commission percentage for each booking source and whether it should reduce your certified invoice base or be tracked separately for cash-flow reporting.
For example: if Booking.com charges 15% and the commission is embedded in the guest price, setting “Commission is included: Yes” reduces the e-invoice base for accommodation by 15%, which correctly reflects your actual taxable revenue. If you don’t configure this, you may be over-reporting income and over-paying VAT.
How to Set Up MyDATA Compliance with Chekin
Chekin integrates with both Greek compliance systems, MyDATA for professional hosts and the Short-Term Rental Declaration system for non-professional hosts, through its Certified Invoices feature.
For professional hosts (MyDATA via Invopop):
- Go to Certified Invoices in your Chekin property settings
- Select “Professional Host” as your connection type
- Authorize ILYDA as your e-invoicing provider in Taxisnet
- Enter your company data and configure sending settings (manual or automatic, default invoice items)
- Configure Commission Rules for each booking source if applicable
- Go live — Chekin generates and submits XML documents to MyDATA after each transaction
For non-professional hosts (Short-Term Rental Declaration):
- Ensure your property is registered in the AADE Short-Term Rental Registry and has an active A.M.A.
- In Chekin Certified Invoices, select “Short-Term Rental” as your integration type
- Enter your AADE/Taxisnet credentials and select your A.M.A. from the dropdown
- Specify whether you’re acting as an individual or legal entity
- Chekin’s online check-in form will automatically collect the required guest data (TIN for Greek guests, passport for foreign guests)
- After each checkout, Chekin submits the declaration automatically — or on the schedule you configure
Note: You must have completed property registration in the AADE Short-Term Rental Registry before activating this feature. Chekin handles declaration submission, not initial property registration.
Key Deadlines and Dates
| Obligation | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Short-Term Stay Declaration per booking | 20th of the month following checkout |
| Amending a submitted declaration | Until February 28 of the tax return year |
| Short-Term Rental Declaration for cancellations with fee | 20th of the month following cancellation |
| Finalization of Short-Term Residence Property Register | No later than February 28 of the return year |
| MyDATA invoice submission | Real time (per transaction) |
| Retention of MARK codes and e-books | 5 years minimum |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is MyDATA in Greece? MyDATA (My Digital Accounting and Tax Application) is the mandatory electronic platform operated by Greece’s tax authority (AADE) where businesses must report all invoices, receipts, and credit notes in real time. Every submitted document receives a MARK confirmation code.
Does MyDATA apply to vacation rentals and short-term rentals? Yes. All property managers operating as a business — generally those with 3 or more properties or operating through a legal entity — must comply with MyDATA. Hosts with 1–2 properties as individuals use the Short-Term Rental Declaration system instead, which is also mandatory.
What is the difference between MyDATA (Prohost) and the Short-Term Rental Declaration (Non Prohost)? MyDATA applies to professional hosts and requires certified e-invoices submitted via an authorized provider. The Short-Term Rental Declaration system applies to individuals with 1–2 properties and requires a declaration per booking submitted to a separate AADE portal. Both are legally mandatory; the thresholds and procedures differ.
What are the MyDATA penalties for non-compliance? Under Law 5073/2023: a minimum fine of €5,000 or 50% of gross annual revenue (whichever is higher) for unregistered properties or missing declarations. The fine doubles if no corrective action is taken within 15 days of notification. An inaccurate Short-Term Stay Declaration carries a fine equal to double the nightly rate on the booking platform at inspection time.
When must Short-Term Stay Declarations be submitted? By the 20th of the month following the guest’s departure. For example, a checkout on March 5 means the declaration must be filed by April 20.
What is a MARK code in MyDATA? A MARK (Μοναδικός Αριθμός Καταχώρισης) is a unique registration number that AADE assigns to each successfully submitted document. It confirms the document is officially recorded and serves as proof of compliance during audits.
Does MyDATA apply to bookings from Airbnb and Booking.com? Yes. The booking platform is irrelevant — the obligation falls on the property manager. Neither Airbnb nor Booking.com files on your behalf in Greece.
What data do I need to collect from guests for the Short-Term Stay Declaration? For Greek citizens: their Tax Identification Number (ΑΦΜ). For foreign guests: full name and passport number. This is collected at check-in and must be accurate — filing with incorrect data carries the same penalty as not filing.
What is an A.M.A. and do I need one? An A.M.A. (Αριθμός Μητρώου Ακινήτου — Property Registry Number) is assigned when you register your property in the AADE Short-Term Rental Registry. It must be displayed on all platform listings. You cannot submit Short-Term Stay Declarations without a finalized A.M.A.
What happens if a booking crosses January 1st? The income must be split between the two tax years proportionally by number of nights. Two separate declarations are required — one for the nights in the first year, one for the nights in the second.
Does MyDATA require a certified e-invoicing provider? Yes. For Prohost/MyDATA compliance, you must authorize a certified AADE e-invoicing provider (ILYDA authorization through Taxisnet). Chekin handles this via its integration with Invopop, an AADE-certified provider.
What is the VAT rate for short-term rentals in Greece? Accommodation services are subject to 13% VAT under Greek law. This applies to professional hosts operating under MyDATA. Non-professional hosts with 1–2 properties are generally VAT-exempt, unless they provide additional services (cleaning, meals, etc.).
Can I automate MyDATA submissions if I use Guesty? Yes. Chekin integrates with Guesty to pull booking data and automate both MyDATA e-invoice submissions and Short-Term Stay Declarations. The integration handles guest data mapping, VAT calculation, and automatic submission after checkout.
Conclusion
MyDATA compliance in Greece is not complicated once you understand which system applies to your situation. The biggest mistake property managers make is either assuming their booking platform handles it for them (it doesn’t) or conflating MyDATA with the Short-Term Rental Declaration system (they’re different obligations with different workflows).
If you manage 3+ properties or operate through a company, you need full MyDATA compliance: certified e-invoices, a registered AADE provider, and real-time submissions. If you manage 1–2 properties as an individual, you need Short-Term Stay Declarations filed by the 20th of each month.
In both cases, doing this manually — logging into government portals after every checkout, chasing guest passport numbers, tracking deadlines across multiple bookings — is a significant time drain and an unnecessary source of compliance risk. Automation handles the data collection, the submissions, and the deadline tracking. You get the MARK code confirmation, and you get on with running your properties.
Discover how Chekin can help you automate check-in, stay compliant, protect your property, and boost revenue—saving 87% of your time and earning more from every booking.
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