Your AFM in Greece is the nine-digit tax identification number required for nearly every legal and financial transaction in the country. Whether you're trying to open a bank account, sign a residential lease, connect utility services, or buy property, public offices and private companies will ask for your AFM before processing your request. If you've already been issued a tax number but can't remember it, or if you need to track down your registration documents, finding it requires navigating Greece's digital tax portal, myAADE, or checking past official correspondence.
Finding your lost AFM doesn't have to mean standing in line at a local tax office (DOY). This guide walks you through digital retrieval methods, physical document checks, and steps to recover your credentials if you're locked out of your online tax profile.
Check Existing Digital and Physical Records
Before logging into state portals, look through documents you've already received from Greek authorities. Your AFM is permanent; once assigned, it never changes, meaning old paperwork is just as valid as new printouts.
- Tax Clearance Certificate (Ekκαθαριστικό): If you've ever filed a tax return in Greece, your AFM appears prominently at the top of your annual tax assessment notice.
- Property Deeds or Lease Registrations: If you've rented or bought property, your tax number is recorded on the lease declaration submitted to the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE).
- Bank Statements: Greek bank accounts linked to your identity display your tax identification number on account summary headers or profile settings.
- Previous Invoices or Utility Bills: Certain utility providers print customer tax details on billing statements if the account is registered under your personal name.
Retrieve Your AFM Online via myAADE
If you can't find physical paperwork, the fastest way to verify your details is through Greece's official public revenue portal. If you already have active TAXISnet credentials, the process takes minutes.
- Navigate to the official myAADE portal and select the login option using your TAXISnet username and password.
- Once authenticated, access your profile summary (Μητρώο / Επικοινωνία or registry settings).
- Your nine-digit AFM will be listed clearly alongside your registered personal details, address, and tax office (DOY) jurisdiction.
- Download or print your registration certificate (Βεβαίωση Απόδοσης ΑΦΜ) if you need a certified digital copy for an employer or bank.
What to Do If You Lost Your TAXISnet Credentials
Many people trying to find their AFM online realize they've also lost their password or username. Without login access, standard portal recovery requires specific steps.
If your mobile phone number and email are up to date in the Greek tax registry, you can use the password reset tool on the TAXISnet login page. The system will send an OTP (one-time password) to verify your identity.
If your contact details have changed and you can no longer receive recovery codes, you'll need to update your registry data. This can often be handled via a video appointment through the myAADElive service, allowing a tax officer to verify your passport over a webcam and update your credentials without an in-person office visit.
Recovering Your Number In Person or via Representative
If digital recovery fails, you can request your AFM details directly from any tax office (ΔΟΥ) in Greece.
Bring your original passport or EU identity card. The staff can look up your file using your full name, date of birth, and parents' full names—a data point strictly required by Greek administrative systems.
If you've left the country and cannot visit an office, you can authorize a fiscal representative, lawyer, or accountant in Greece to pull your records. This requires signing a formal Power of Attorney (Πληρεξούσιο) at a Greek consulate in your home country. Once empowered, your representative can visit the tax office on your behalf and obtain official printouts of your tax registration.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Confusing AFM with AMKA: Your AFM is strictly for tax and financial administration. Don't confuse it with your AMKA, which is your social security and healthcare number. They are managed by entirely different government departments.
- Assuming an AFM expires: Tax numbers in Greece never deactivate due to inactivity. Even if you haven't lived or filed taxes in the country for a decade, your number remains the same.
- Ignoring address updates: If you've moved abroad or changed your foreign address after leaving Greece, failing to update your registry can cause communication gaps with the tax office. Keep your profile current through myAADE or your tax representative.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I look up someone else's AFM online?
No. For privacy and data protection reasons, Greece does not offer a public search engine or directory to look up individual tax numbers by name.
Is my AFM number printed on my residence permit?
In many cases, yes. If you hold a Greek residence permit or a Golden Visa card, your tax identification number is often printed on the back or included in the personal data section.
How do I find my Authentication Key (Kleidarithmos)?
If you lost the activation key required to set up TAXISnet, you can request a new one through the myAADE platform or retrieve it during a verified myAADElive video call with a tax agent.
What should I do if my AFM shows as inactive?
Tax numbers are rarely inactivated, but if your account is flagged due to unresolved compliance issues or missing tax representative data, you must contact your assigned tax office (DOY) or consult a Greek accountant to clear the status.
