Update – Greek Cruising Tax for 2014
The following information on the Greek cruising tax has been taken from the Cruising Association website. It reflects what is under stood on paper but at this stage given our experience in Greece the reality locally as to where you are cruising may take some time to put policy into practice. Ultimately this is just another cost for cruisers and in following the forums there is mixed reaction. Greece is still one of the most beautiful areas in the Med to cruise and in our opinion well worth paying for to sail there and invest in a wonderful cruising ground in a country in difficulty. Other countries in the Med also have taxes or challenging requirements relating to waste. Follow us or the Cruising Association for news.
Updated 12 Dec 2013
Recent changes in Italics
The Cruising Association has a good translation of article 13 of law 4211/2013 passed by the Greek Government on 26 November, and gazetted as A 256 of 28th November. The law introduces a “Staying Fee” to be levied on small leisure craft over 7m LOA which sail, moor or anchor in Greek waters. The fee will apply to both commercial and private craft. How the law will be implemented is the responsibility of the Greek Department of Shipping and Aegean Sea, to whom we have addressed a number of suggestions. These include all the points raised so far by readers
The fee is payable from 1st January, 2014. It will cover one calendar year’s stay. Vessels above 12m LOA have the option to pay one month at a time (whether calendar or any 30 days is not clear). Amounts are:
7m – 8m €200
Above 8m – 10m €300
Above 10m – 12m €400
Above 12m €100/metre
The registration document LOA will be used for calculating fees. Vessels over 12m have two options to reduce costs; pay €10 per metre for the month ahead, or be “permanently based” in Greece and obtain a 30% discount from the annual fee. So 12.7m LOA will pay €1,270 pa (discounted by 30% if applicable) or €127 per month
Receipts for fees must be carried with ships papers, and may be asked for at any time. The receipt is valid for the whole period of pre-payment, and remains valid if the boat leaves Greek waters and returns later. Rebates are not payable for periods out of Greek waters.
“Electronic” payment will be possible annually in December for the following year, or on entry into Greek waters. When arriving in a port of entry, EU boats obtaining a DEKPA, and non-EU boats obtaining a Transit Log, can pay cash on arrival. Boats already in Greece on 1 Jan 2014 will need to pay at their local tax office or port authority to remain in Greece.
If a receipt can’t be produced on request, the boat can be detained until a full fee has been paid, plus a 100% penalty fee.
Notes.
1. The proposed law is the result of two years of negotiations between opposing points of view; tourism interests, versus taxation needs. Strong objections have been voiced within Greece by a consortium of marina owners, but this appears to have been ineffective.
2. It will pay vessels to prepare for its introduction.
3. The CA will be seeking concessions for categories of sailors most likely to leave Greek waters as a result of this legislation. Categories are: vessels already in Greece who aim to depart shortly after their launch; boats affected by the “step change” in charges at 12m; boats under 12m visiting for short periods from other countries. Your planning should not rely on such concessions being granted.
4. It is likely that implementation of this tax will lead to questions about how much time you spend in Greece. People planning to spend more than 182 days per 365 days in Greece are, by EU definition, tax residents of Greece. We strongly recommend that potential Greek tax residents review the following effects:
a) the need to make tax returns
b) the need to prove you are importing money into a Greek bank account
c) the fact that valuable assets (such as a boat) are taxable above certain thresholds.
5. This news item will be kept up to date as further information is obtained.
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