Court rules levying of property tax through electricity bills illegal
A first instance court in Athens has ruled the collection of a special property tax through electricity bills illegal.
The PASOK government introduced the controversial tax late last year to boost flagging revenues but a number of citizens, consumer and business groups mounted a legal challenge against the fact that the charge was levied through Public Power Corporation bills.
Taxpayers were threatened with having their electricity cut off if they did not pay the extra tax.
The first instance court judged that this form of collecting the levy was illegal and that electricity bills should no longer display the amount of tax PPC customers have to pay.
The ruling can be appealed.
