Greek TPP now in play

[marina95]

One of our syndicate members got pulled by a Coast Guard RIB this week and they demanded to see our DEPKA. Even though there was a port stamp in there from September last year they pointed out that there was no proof of payment for the new tax and demanded that they return to harbour immediately to visit the port police to pay the tax and get a new stamp.

With tail between legs he complied, visited the PP with the DEPKA, registration document, insurance certificate and a wallet only to be told that he couldn't pay the tax in cash in the office - this had to be done online using a web site available only in Greek and once done he could return to the office for the stamp.

Apparently this has started on April 30th 2015. Area of Argolic Gulf, harbour Porto Heli.

I have looked and looked and cannot locate the website to make the online payment...

 

[Tony Cross]

One of our syndicate members got pulled by a Coast Guard RIB this week and they demanded to see our DEPKA. Even though there was a port stamp in there from September last year they pointed out that there was no proof of payment for the new tax and demanded that they return to harbour immediately to visit the port police to pay the tax and get a new stamp.

With tail between legs he complied, visited the PP with the DEPKA, registration document, insurance certificate and a wallet only to be told that he couldn't pay the tax in cash in the office - this had to be done online using a web site available only in Greek and once done he could return to the office for the stamp.

Apparently this has started on April 30th 2015. Area of Argolic Gulf, harbour Porto Heli.

I have looked and looked and cannot locate the website to make the online payment...

Porto Heli is known to have PP who make up their own rules. As far as I am aware the TPP has not been implemented.

 

[sailaboutvic]

I also was talking to the PP just the other day , and they too got no idea if it will ever come into force .
PP are known to make up there own rules as they go along , I remember years a ago I had the Greek law transcript that said if you had a contact with an Marina you only had to get a stamp once a month , even then some still insisted they that I had to have a stamp in every harbour ,

I sure everyone will be interested on this out come , please let us all know how it ends

 

[marina95]

Total confusion. The boatyard have advised that the tax is in play and Porto Heli yachts are being told they must pay. From our side our syndicate member and family are scheduled to fly home tomorrow and as I've been unable to come up with the method of payment this will have to wait until I get out there in June unless I can get some official guidance from the UK in the meantime. Officialdom trying to bust 300 Euros out of yachts without an official mandate for collection sounds pretty much as bad as it can get!

 

[Chris_Robb]

Total confusion. The staff at Franks Yachtstation have advised that the tax is in play and Porto Heli yachts are being told they must pay. From our side our syndicate member and family are scheduled to fly home tomorrow and as I've been unable to come up with the method of payment this will have to wait until I get out there in June unless I can get some official guidance from the UK in the meantime. Officialdom trying to bust 300 Euros out of yachts without an official mandate for collection sounds pretty much as bad as it can get!

Hi, I have just seen this thread. I have been working with the Greek Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Shipping on this on behalf of the Cruising Association, and at this time there is NO decision on implementation of the TPP.

The new government is however in rather a mess and at sixes and sevens on many things, just when we had made so much progress last year sorting out Port Police Duties and getting them off our backs.

Could you please send me an affidavit either directly from your skipper - but as accurate and as factual as possible, and I will take this up with both the Finance Ministry and the Hellenic Coast Guard. I will also keep our Athens Embassy in the loop on this one too

I have PM'd you with my email address.

 

[marina95]

A big thanks Chris, have responded via email and skipper will put together an affidavit...

 

[ostra4]

Been for yearly Dekpa stamp to PP in Nidri , very pleasant stamping session and not a mention about tax , be rather awkward to introduce a yearly tax in May anyway -

 

[RichardS]

I sailed from Croatia to Corfu last August and when I asked for my DEKPA the port officer said she hadn't got any.

When I asked what I should say if I was asked for it she said everyone knows that there aren't any.

That was the end of that.

Richard

 

[duncan99210]

We visited the PPP in Prevza on 27 April to get the DEPKA stamped. They couldn't have been more helpful, took copies of insurance certificate and crew list, reminded us that this stamp was valid until 1 Jan 16 and that we didn't need another stamp until then. They also said that if we wanted a stamp, the local PP would be happy to provide us with one but it was to required. No mention at all of the TPP, nor was there any mention of it in the yard when we were talking about getting a stamp from the PP. Sounds like the usual local interpretation of the rules by someone who thinks he's helping.

 

[Chris_Robb]

We visited the PPP in Prevza on 27 April to get the DEPKA stamped. They couldn't have been more helpful, took copies of insurance certificate and crew list, reminded us that this stamp was valid until 1 Jan 16 and that we didn't need another stamp until then. They also said that if we wanted a stamp, the local PP would be happy to provide us with one but it was to required. No mention at all of the TPP, nor was there any mention of it in the yard when we were talking about getting a stamp from the PP. Sounds like the usual local interpretation of the rules by someone who thinks he's helping.

That's just another example of local interpretation! The regulation, which had been monthly stamping, changed last year to once a year. It is not from the start of the year but was designed to run from the initial payment you made on the cruising tax (TPP), which you had to have paid to get the stamp.

That is all up in the air at the moment.

 

[marina95]

Here is the website that yacht owners and skippers are being directed to use in order to pay the new tax.

https://www1.gsis.gr/sgsisapps/eparavolo/public/welcome.htm

Without a printed confirmation as a result of completing the form and paying the tax Porto Heli PP will not make the stamp in the DEKPA.

As you'll see, unless you are a fluent Greek speaker you stand no chance of understanding what's what on the form - Google Translate won't translate the form fields, so even that isn't providing a clue.

A domain check shows that the site domain is administered by forthnet.gr a commercial organisation but a check of the security certificate shows that it's owned by the General Secretariat of Information Systems of Min. of Economics, so it looks pukka...

From my standpoint, and I may sound heathen here but how the hell do they expect non-Greek speakers to be able to pay this new tax online?!

 

[Chris_Robb]

Here is the website that yacht owners and skippers are being directed to use in order to pay the new tax.

https://www1.gsis.gr/sgsisapps/eparavolo/public/welcome.htm

Without a printed confirmation as a result of completing the form and paying the tax Porto Heli PP will not make the stamp in the DEKPA.

As you'll see, unless you are a fluent Greek speaker you stand no chance of understanding what's what on the form - Google Translate won't translate the form fields, so even that isn't providing a clue.

A domain check shows that the site domain is administered by forthnet.gr a commercial organisation but a check of the security certificate shows that it's owned by the General Secretariat of Information Systems of Min. of Economics, so it looks pukka...

From my standpoint, and I may sound heathen here but how the hell do they expect non-Greek speakers to be able to pay this new tax online?!

I have been officially informed by the Greek Ministry of Finance, that the TPP has not yet been implemented. It will not be until all the wrinkles have been iron out including an english language website.

This is the text of the email

Dear Mr Robb,

From the side of General Secretariat of Public Revenue, we can inform you that TPP is not yet in operation, because there is a Ministerial Decision pending about alll tax implementation issues. The tax will be in operation soon after the issuance of the above mentioned Ministerial Decision between the Ministries of Finance and Shipping. We can also assure you that we are working also for the payment web site to be also in English.


As to when it will be active - who knows, they have a lot on their plate at the moment.

Richard - I really need that affidavit as my contact needs it NOW to take it up with the Porto Heli port police - can you chase your friend.

 

[marina95]

Chris - Thanks and duly noted, I'm on his case to get it to you.

 

[Norman_E]

I get confused every time the word DEKPA is mentioned. I don't visit Greece very often and have a large folded card with spaces for harbour stamps, both in and out. Is that the DEKPA, or am I supposed to have something else as well?

 

[sailaboutvic]

You got it

 

[rivonia]

I get confused every time the word DEKPA is mentioned. I don't visit Greece very often and have a large folded card with spaces for harbour stamps, both in and out. Is that the DEKPA, or am I supposed to have something else as well?

What you have is the DEKPA

 

[jimbaerselman]

I get confused every time the word DEKPA is mentioned. I don't visit Greece very often and have a large folded card with spaces for harbour stamps, both in and out. Is that the DEKPA, or am I supposed to have something else as well?

Yes. That's your DEKPA, to be stamped once per year. Additional things you need: national registration certificate, proof of insurance that meets Greek requirements, and (if you entered from a non-Schengen country) a crew list with names and passport numbers of all the scruffs you imported from outside the Schengen region.

Full details for most cases we can imagine can be found at http://www.theca.org.uk/news/greektax

Chris, Tony and myself have been working on this on behalf of the Cruising Association (CA) to keep everyone up to date with what's going on over the last couple of years.

If you find any exceptions to what we've written, please let CA know. We need evidence to argue our cases with the Greek Ministries concerned. They're all very helpful, but do want facts, as apart from hearsay.

JimB, for the CA.

 

[marina95]

Jim, I can assure you - there's no hearsay in what I've described - I'm not sure whether that comment was pointed in my direction...

 

[marina95]

Chris - Affidavit now completed and sent to your email address.

 

[beserksail]

No wonder Greece is in such a state when they can't even get you rich yachties to pay what's due.