Greek Cruising Tax update from the CA

rtboss1 said:
Any news, good or bad, as decisions need to be made.
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This situation is now moving forward, and issues are looking more clarified but the waters are still quite muddy.

I hope by the end of the week that we will publish a further summary of "what we know". But until the Ministers have signed off this Law, we cannot be certain. We will just try to give best guidance to help you all.
 
Chris_Robb said:
This situation is now moving forward, and issues are looking more clarified but the waters are still quite muddy.

I hope by the end of the week that we will publish a further summary of "what we know". But until the Ministers have signed off this Law, we cannot be certain. We will just try to give best guidance to help you all.
Click to expand...

Well said Chris and thanks for all your efforts.
 
GREEK CRUISING TAX UPDATE

GREEK CRUISING TAX UPDATE​
UPDATE dated: 21 January 2018​
Source: Shipping Ministry Verbal explanation.​
​
The Law on the Cruising Tax (TEPAI) has been gazetted. The Ministries of Finance and Shipping now have to agree the implementation plans, and these will be published during January 2018. This means that it looks like this tax will happen and affect us all in 2018.
KEY POINTS ON THE TAX – Subject to confirmation.


  • The DEKPA will become the recording document of your compliance with the new TAX. Make sure you have it and the tax receipt attached to the DEKPA when on the water.


  • The Tax will be paid monthly and run from the Payment Date

Latest contact with Ministry says Tax is strictly Monthly. Ie Launch on 27th May, and sail till June 30th Is TWO months Tax. This is at odds with the Law, so we hope common sense with prevail eventually.


  • You will be able to pay for several contiguous months tax at one time


  • Annual payments to qualify for 10% discount run January to December – so will not be used by many.

Latest understanding is that the Annual discount will be 10%+20% = 30% But no news on a change to say May to May type annual payment.

Caution on this item though as the Marina managers say they don't even understand the Greek law and could interpret it either way. So worst case scenario is its only 10% discount. watch this space.


  • Out of Use will apply to boats out of the water AND we now understand, also to those in the water in a marina. We do NOT know yet what proof will be needed.
Latest understanding is “Out of Use” whether in or out of the water, will require your ships papers to be lodged with the Port Police and withdrawn when starting to sail again. Similar in effect to putting a boat in customs bond. Consider what will happen if documents are lost by the PP, with thousands of extra documents to file.


  • Payment: We understand payment will be made in the same way as that used for obtaining the new DEKPA in 2017 – a visit to the local bank – pay your dues (in cash) and take your receipt to the Port Police.
The CA is working hard to confirm these details and to improve the conditions such as increasing the annual discount to 30% and apply tax from the date of payment.
WARNING – do not yet take these points as gospel.


 
I would imagine it will work exactly the same. Currently we (non EU yachts) have to place the vessel in bond to prove 'out of use' state to the Customs Officials (at least this is the case fo us on an NZ flagged vessel on the hard in Preveza), so in a way we are already doing part of this new law. I am sure when we go to retrieve our Transit Log from the lady in Preveza Customs, she will happily insist we pay this new tax before she releases the TL back to us. We will pay for one month and then head for Turkey. We have every intention of continuing to sail in occasionally in Greece, but will base the boat in Turkey again.

PT
 
If I recall correctly, with the reciprocal tax you had to get the invoice from the local tax office, take that to the bank, deposit the amount into the specified bank account, take the deposit slip back to the tax office, get your receipt and take that back to the Customs office, whereupon they would fill in the section at the back of the TL, stamp it and send you on to the Port Police. Didn't have to do that for the previous TL when we stayed in Greece for 12 months straight (as mentioned in other threads, we had other issues), and all previous TL's have been canceled before the 'reciprocal tax' fell due. I imagine that the initial process is likely to be just as cumbersome!

PT
 
What you just describe looks like may become the norm for everyone, so I guess there going to be quite a bit of hanging around in the busiest months . For us who at time may enter and leave Greece two or three times a year it's going to be a pain having to keep going back to the PP .
The other concern part is entrying or launching in the middle of a month means you lost part of the month , that in it self is going to be an expensive month especially if you over 12 mts .
It be interesting to see what's going to happen with boats over 12 mts ,
Chris Robbs once again for keeping us updated.
 
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Non EU flagged yachts.

We are checking today if there is a change and that all vessels have to have a DEKPA, however, I assume that the TL may perform for you, what the DEKPA does for us EU flagged boats - ie act as the registration document. I hope Tony Cross, my spy:disgust: in Greece will get an update from his Marina Manager.

Pat - how about looking at Joining the CA - loads of help on our forums and up to date Cruising/Port/anchorage info on Captains Mates which can be run from your smart phone. See www.theCA.org.uk
 
As it stands now Chris , no one going to be launching the second part of a month so marinas and PP are going to be busy first weeks of each months .
I suppose there been no news about if your late getting the DEKPA restamp late ? ( after the 12 months are up )
 
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Vic raises a good point. As things stand, even if we do move to Turkey; if we plan to sail the Dod's for a couple of weeks, we will have to be mindful of only sailing between the 1st and 14th or we're up for an extra months charge! Even Croatia doesn't do that.

The Caribbean is looking prettier by the day.

PT
 
sailaboutvic said:
As it stands now Chris , no one going to be launching the second part of a month so marinas and PP are going to be busy first weeks of each months .
I suppose there been no news about if your late getting the DEKPA restamp late ? ( after the 12 months are up )
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Vic. It will really overload the system and it is so unnecessary. Mind you our road tax is done the same way.
We will be pursuing this more and the DEKPA issue.
 
We spent 5 months cruising in Greece last sumer spending something the region of £15000 ( including family visits). Our overwintering costs plus some maintenance/ refit will take that to £25000. The VAT tax take on that was 24%, roughly £4800 as well as the obvious commercial benefits to the area.

As a result of the introduction of this new tax, we shall cruise one more season in Greece and then leave, much sooner than planned. The Greek authorities tax take from us will be much lower because of this tax. Whilst I don't think for a moment the tax will affect the charter business, I suspect other cruising yachtsman will also vote with their feet but whether in sufficient numbers to cause a rethink( like in Sardinia) remains to be seen.

I respect the right of the Greek government to introduce any tax it chooses. In this case it doesn't seem to be a wise or productive one.....but what do I Know?
 
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