By Prokopis Hatzinikolaou

The Finance Ministry decided on Wednesday that certain consumers will be refunded heating oil taxes of 200-900 euros on the condition they apply and qualify for the benefit.

Applications will be filed online and consumers can expect to be refunded within seven days.

The criteria to be used will be based on the location, income and property of each taxpayer, while the unemployed and those below the poverty line will qualify for a special benefit.

In total, the ministry is planning to spend some 300 million euros this winter to this end.

The price of heating oil will soar from an average of 1 euro per liter last winter to about 1.40 euros due to the leveling of the special consumption tax for heating oil with that of diesel as of October 15 in a bid to clamp down on tax evasion.