Filenews 9 April 2022 - by Eleftheria Paizanos
With an additional €707 million. the 2021 state budget was injected, mainly to strengthen the measures to contain the coronavirus pandemic (vaccines, consumables, etc.), but also to provide social benefits.
According to the Fiscal Report for 2021, last year the Parliament approved supplementary budgets of €691 million. At the same time, additional appropriations of €16 million have been used from the Fixed Fund of the Republic. Following the additional appropriations of €707 million, the total expenditure of last year's budget amounted to €11.4 billion, compared to €11.1 billion in 2020. It is recalled that the 2021 budget went through turmoil, as, for the first time, the majority of the parties had voted against it in December 2020 and, after consultations and give and take with the government, the budget was approved in January of the same year.
An analysis of the Data of the Treasury shows that, out of the total additional appropriations, most of the money was given for social benefits. Specifically, the additional appropriations for social benefits increased by €382.4 million, bringing the total funds to €2.07 billion. At the same time, an amount of approximately €100 million has been allocated to operating expenses, bringing the relevant funds to €344.1 million. An additional €91 million were given for the allowance of grants increasing the appropriations to € 502.5 million.
At €8.73 billion receipts
Last year, a total of €8.73 billion was received in the state coffers, even though revenues of €8.86 billion were budgeted. In the midst of the pandemic, in 2021, taxes increased the state's revenues by €764 million. Specifically, indirect tax revenues increased by €45m, compared to the previous year. The increase is mainly due to increased revenues from excise duties, increased contributions to the Social Cohesion Fund, as well as increased revenues from transfer fees.
Indirect taxes amounted to €3.17 billion, of which €2.15 billion relate to VAT. In detail, the receipts from import duties amounted to €42 million, consumption taxes were €532 million, motor vehicle taxes were €27.5 million. and from other indirect taxes the revenues were €418.5 million. Moreover, revenues from direct taxes reached €2.65 billion, recording a substantial increase of €719 million compared to 2020. The increase is due to increased corporate tax and personal income tax revenues. Specifically, from the personal income tax, €990.7 million ended up in the state's coffers and an amount of €1.26 billion was collected from corporate income tax. Another €115 million from the property tax, € 80.9 million from motor vehicle taxes and €207 million from other direct taxes.
EU sponsorship almost quadrupled
According to the Fiscal Report for 2021, the remaining revenues include, among other things, receipts from the supply of services and the sale of goods, which were €332 million. The increase is mainly due to the increased revenues from the remuneration of personnel seconded to the Organization of State Health Services (CYSO), as well as to the increased revenues from the auction of greenhouse gas emission allowances.
Moreover, sponsorships from the European Union reached €306 million, compared to €86 million the previous year. At the same time, they decreased to €51 million from €62 million in 2020. Income from airports and port management rights increased to €23 million from €5 million that was last year's guarantee fees. Last year, the state received dividends from semi-public organizations, namely Cyta, amounting to €19 million compared to €15 million. Finally, through the offsetting process, revenues of a total amount of €36.8 million were collected in 2021, which mainly concern Taxation, the Social Insurance Fund and the Water Development Department.
