SYRIZA amendment for zero taxation of retroactive pensioners

On the initiative of the Head of Finance of K.O. of SYRIZA-PS, Efi Ahtsioglou, today an amendment was submitted to the Parliament for the zero taxation of the retroactive 11 months, paid cut by the government of ND to the pensioners in 2020, for the reductions of pensions of 2012 that were considered unconstitutional.

The amendment responds to the fair request for zero taxation of the specific retrospectives, which have been submitted to SYRIZA-PS. the United Network of Pensioners and 20 pensioners’ associations of the country.

The explanatory memorandum to the amendment states:

Laws 4093/2012 and 4051/2012 imposed cuts in the main and auxiliary pensions and in the leave and Christmas and Easter allowances of private and public sector retirees.

The Council of State, with the decisions No. 1439-1443 / 2020 of the Plenary Session of the CoC, considered these cuts unconstitutional and the pensioners were entitled to receive retroactive amounts for the 11 months from June 2015 to May 2016, when law 4387/2016 was passed, which cured the specific unconstitutionality.

However, the government decided, legislated in October 2020 and then paid retroactively for 11 months only for the cuts made in 2012 in the main pensions, while it did not pay – as it should due to the judgment of the CoE – retrospectively for the cuts in the supplementary pensions and on leave and holiday bonuses for Christmas and Easter.

The truncated retrospectives are further reduced by their imposed taxation.

Based on the above data, this amendment provides for the zero taxation of the specific retroactive payments received by the pensioners, as a -partial only- compensation for their reduction by the government.

In addition, in conditions of sweeping accuracy, with very high price increases in basic goods and products (natural gas, heating oil, fuel, electricity, food), the exemption of retirees from the taxation of these retroactive ones is a relief that and their families.