Chris_Robb
Well-known member
The CA has just announced that the Shipping Ministry has changed the law on Checking In and Out for the Unlimited Transit Log (UTL) . You used to have to (theoretically) check in AND out of every port you visited.
Following pressure by the CA on the new(ish) shipping minister, a small but significant change in the law has been made.
If you are holding a UTL - you NO LONGER need to check in and out of each port you visit.
You still will have to check out of Greece and check in on returning.
There is NO CHANGE to the requirement for ordinary (NON VAT PAID) TLs (LTL) - you still need to check in and out. This of course is carried out to the letter in some parts of Greece and others - like the Ionian - are very relaxed.
Remember that when you lay up a LTL yacht , you must deposit the TL with Port Police. This stops you going over the 6 months time limit for a non EU resident which with would of course create a residency and tax liability - which is not allowed on a LTL.
Anyone who is VAT Paid status but was issued incorrectly with a Limited Transit log, should go to customs with his Proof of Vat and ask them to upgrade the TL. You may of course be faced with the issue of proving vat has never been refunded. You need to appeal to the AADE or Join the CA and get them to speak out for you. It is of course impossible for a private yacht to get a refund of VAT unde4r any circumstances. The CA is still working on this - and it is by no means universal in Greece - mainly Dodecanese islands and Crete. The rest seem to be quite capable of understanding the Union Customs Code and are doing the right thing. Preveza is particularly good with Stavros Pivlades . But don't ask if you don't need one - ie you have been in Greece since Brexit day. Stavros will say you dont need any TL of and sort and will not give you one.
Changing slowly!
Following pressure by the CA on the new(ish) shipping minister, a small but significant change in the law has been made.
If you are holding a UTL - you NO LONGER need to check in and out of each port you visit.
You still will have to check out of Greece and check in on returning.
There is NO CHANGE to the requirement for ordinary (NON VAT PAID) TLs (LTL) - you still need to check in and out. This of course is carried out to the letter in some parts of Greece and others - like the Ionian - are very relaxed.
Remember that when you lay up a LTL yacht , you must deposit the TL with Port Police. This stops you going over the 6 months time limit for a non EU resident which with would of course create a residency and tax liability - which is not allowed on a LTL.
Anyone who is VAT Paid status but was issued incorrectly with a Limited Transit log, should go to customs with his Proof of Vat and ask them to upgrade the TL. You may of course be faced with the issue of proving vat has never been refunded. You need to appeal to the AADE or Join the CA and get them to speak out for you. It is of course impossible for a private yacht to get a refund of VAT unde4r any circumstances. The CA is still working on this - and it is by no means universal in Greece - mainly Dodecanese islands and Crete. The rest seem to be quite capable of understanding the Union Customs Code and are doing the right thing. Preveza is particularly good with Stavros Pivlades . But don't ask if you don't need one - ie you have been in Greece since Brexit day. Stavros will say you dont need any TL of and sort and will not give you one.
Changing slowly!