New tax for foreign yachts based in Greece from 1st January 2014????

[Steve C Cronin]

In the four boatyards on the North coast of Aegina ,the are at least 150 12 metre +yachts. That`s a lot of money for a small police office to have to keep safe.
And remember this office could not produce a receipt book. for a 8.88 euro Hauling paper.

If they are like the ones in Corfu, they won't have anything to do with collecting the tax. They will send you off to the local tax office to do that - another two hours wasted , if you are lucky.

 

[Dig]

We are looking at 1100 euros Greek Tax for our boat and with large increase for electric at 44 euro c for 1 kwh in netsel and the constant increasing costs,blue card ,transit log,UK flights at a premium high, extra , we think its time to look at going back to UK with our boat and call it a day.

 

[charles_reed]

We are looking at 1100 euros Greek Tax for our boat and with large increase for electric at 44 euro c for 1 kwh in netsel and the constant increasing costs,blue card ,transit log,UK flights at a premium high, extra , we think its time to look at going back to UK with our boat and call it a day.

Fond memories of UK costs might be shattered when you get back here - I always find living costs in the UK higher than Greece - and you've got the weather!!!

 

[charles_reed]

If we are talking about the car dealer, it is EXACTLY gthe same thing. He gets full allowance for his Output Tax but that is irelevant to your assertion that tax on tax is never charged. It certainly is.

I wonder what the VAT categorisation for a trader engaged in State Robbery is?

132? No 334? NO. How about 616? (the revised "Mark of the Beast")


Greeks cannot expect the relationship between themselves and their visiting customers to be ever the same again after this.

A certain road to a comfortable life was that of a tax-farmer under Roman law - but then everything in Rome was privatised - government, military, prosecution.
Poor old Steve - no doubt he'd end up, stuck up, I wonder if it would be St Andrew's fashion, cheap and workmanlike, or with all the trimmings.
But then Rome imported the practice from Hellas.

 

[nimbusgb]

Fond memories of UK costs might be shattered when you get back here - I always find living costs in the UK higher than Greece - and you've got the weather!!!

It's not cheap at home but we do get the occasional nice day and you get to choose from 365 days of the year instead just of a couple of weeks.

 

[Bertramdriver]

It's not cheap at home but we do get the occasional nice day and you get to choose from 365 days of the year instead just of a couple of weeks.

365 days? Are you mad or just a masochist. You get 30 to 40 days a year if you are lucky and hardy. In Greece you get at least 6 months with maybe the odd few days lost to a blow through.
This new tax is a killer and hurts financially but having done the math Greece still comes out ahead of the UK. However Italy / Sicily are becoming more attractive providing prices stay stable and they don't climb on the "shag the sailors" bandwagon. I have a suspicion that Turkey will seek to capitalise on the outflow from Greece by hiking up prices and it's still Turkey (I'm not a fan) and they are experts at legal extortion.
For those in the throws of UK based schadenfreude all I can say is when I get off the flight in April, the sun will be shining, the winds will be mild and the beer ice cold. I will just have to spend more time on the hook. No problem.

 

[Squeaky]

Good morning:

There seem to be a lot of members who has lost track or never bothered to understand the origin of this latest tax. As far as I understand it the Greeks are not behind the imposition of this tax - it is being forced on them by the Troika (IMF, World Bank and EU) who are insisting that the Greek government raise additional tax revenue in order to receive the latest tranche of the bail out funds.

I don't think the Troika give a darn how the money is raised as long as it is raised. I doubt very much if the Greek government would impose this tax if they had any choice therefore it doesn't make much sense to rant and rail against them or the Greek people. If you are angry, I suggest you consider the source of the problem and attack them.

By the way, I wish you well in any attempt to contact the Troika - they are nothing but a bunch of faceless bureaucrats who do not show their faces in public - they slip in and out of Greece with total anonymity leaving behind more chaos and trouble for the average Greek citizen.

Yacht owners are just part of the "collateral damage" they leave behind.

If I go to Greece I shall be forced to pay the tax but I won't be doing it happily or willingly but suspect I will be forced to do so like everyone else.

Cheers

Squeaky

 

[Chris_Robb]

Good morning:

There seem to be a lot of members who has lost track or never bothered to understand the origin of this latest tax. As far as I understand it the Greeks are not behind the imposition of this tax - it is being forced on them by the Troika (IMF, World Bank and EU) who are insisting that the Greek government raise additional tax revenue in order to receive the latest tranche of the bail out funds.

I don't think the Troika give a darn how the money is raised as long as it is raised. I doubt very much if the Greek government would impose this tax if they had any choice therefore it doesn't make much sense to rant and rail against them or the Greek people. If you are angry, I suggest you consider the source of the problem and attack them.

By the way, I wish you well in any attempt to contact the Troika - they are nothing but a bunch of faceless bureaucrats who do not show their faces in public - they slip in and out of Greece with total anonymity leaving behind more chaos and trouble for the average Greek citizen.

Yacht owners are just part of the "collateral damage" they leave behind.

If I go to Greece I shall be forced to pay the tax but I won't be doing it happily or willingly but suspect I will be forced to do so like everyone else.

Cheers

Squeaky

Squeaky - yes this tax is as a result of pressure by the Troika.

BUT

The pressure is only there to apply pressure to the Greeks to CUT their bloated public sector - which politically is almost impossible for them to do. Without very substantial cuts, the economy will never be sustainable. What a mess. The only answer for them is to leave the euro and possibly the EU and allow devaluation to solve their problems.

Quite how extra taxes help in the long run, I don't know - but it buys time and allows the can to be kicked down the road yet again.

Doing the sums on keeping in the uk, it is still more expensive - however if the tax 12 months in water or out, this narrows the gap.

I will no doubt give it another year before moving on as I will already be in for 5 months tax (she is in the water) before I even start the season, but I will be looking to cut costs - we will move to a cheaper yard, and eat out far less. Will we pay port dues?- I doubt it. I don't think I will be visiting port police ever again. I am not a registered charity and don't propose to start, especially with undeserving cases.

 

[1bobt]

If they are like the ones in Corfu, they won't have anything to do with collecting the tax. They will send you off to the local tax office to do that - another two hours wasted , if you are lucky.

Well down here in the islands they have closed the Tax office
They even asked me in the Police station to go to Piraeus to pay .85 cent tax owed on a small bill .A round trip on the Dolphin of 26 euro! these people are mad ......

 

[Bertramdriver]

Well down here in the islands they have closed the Tax office
They even asked me in the Police station to go to Piraeus to pay .85 cent tax owed on a small bill .A round trip on the Dolphin of 26 euro! these people are mad ......

I think I could write a very funny Monty Python sketch about this situation. I understand John Cleese is currently writing for the new show.

 

[BurnitBlue]

Just a thought about why we are not hearing the Germans complaining about this tax as much as the British.

Is it because the Germans are about to do the same thing and charge all non-Germans a toll on their autobahns? With the permission of the EU no less. OK vehicles not yachts but the principle is exactly the same.

 

[Tranona]

Just a thought about why we are not hearing the Germans complaining about this tax as much as the British.

Is it because the Germans are about to do the same thing and charge all non-Germans a toll on their autobahns? With the permission of the EU no less. OK vehicles not yachts but the principle is exactly the same.

And, of course in the interests of fairness all the Brits complaining here will demonstrate against the UK govts plans to levy extra taxes on non resident property owners - many of whom are Greek!

 

[sailaboutvic]

I cannot believe that there will be any checking of documents by patrol boats, so the situation will be exactly as that for paying harbour dues. Avoid the harbours and nobody will know whether you have paid or not.

It was only a few weeks ago people was saying this tax won't come in and if it does it will take Greece a year or two to past it , well it in , so don't be surprise what happens .

 

[BurnitBlue]

And, of course in the interests of fairness all the Brits complaining here will demonstrate against the UK govts plans to levy extra taxes on non resident property owners - many of whom are Greek!

It will ever be thus. Recall the communist mantra that all men are created equal but some are created more equal than others. To the EU's mantra on the right of FREE passage but please stay at home. And the USA mantra send us your poor and downtrodden but only if they have money or a ticket back home.

Don't know why I am writting this drivel. Not drunk or anything. intersesting though.

 

[jimbaerselman]

Is it because the Germans are about to do the same thing and charge all non-Germans a toll on their autobahns? With the permission of the EU no less. OK vehicles not yachts but the principle is exactly the same.

A good insight. But as far as the EU is concerned, yachts, cars and airplanes are all the same. They are "Means of Transport" (MoT) and subject to the same directives. Austria already imposes this autobahn levy (like the Swiss one, but Switzerland is outside the EU!), and the Greek proposals look like a very close imitation of their process.

This is an avenue the Cruising Association will be exploring, but first we're getting an accurate translation of the law as presented to parliament (but not yet published/gazetted) and then we'll be asking for clarifications as to how it will be implemented. This will be a slow process. CA will continue to provide regular updates about what's going on on its web site "news" tab. Last update was 26 Nov.

 

[Steve C Cronin]

And, of course in the interests of fairness all the Brits complaining here will demonstrate against the UK govts plans to levy extra taxes on non resident property owners - many of whom are Greek!

Lots of very rich Greeks own properties here in the UK then, do they? I rest my case!

However, tell us more about this UK tax.

 

[Steve C Cronin]

A good insight. But as far as the EU is concerned, yachts, cars and airplanes are all the same. They are "Means of Transport" (MoT) and subject to the same directives. Austria already imposes this autobahn levy (like the Swiss one, but Switzerland is outside the EU!), and the Greek proposals look like a very close imitation of their process.

This is an avenue the Cruising Association will be exploring, but first we're getting an accurate translation of the law as presented to parliament (but not yet published/gazetted) and then we'll be asking for clarifications as to how it will be implemented. This will be a slow process. CA will continue to provide regular updates about what's going on on its web site "news" tab. Last update was 26 Nov.

It is easy to see why those who contribute to the wear on road surfaces should contribute to their upkeep (& the Swiss ONLY charge for motorways) but how do you wear out the surface of the sea. I thinnk that WE should charge for use of our motorways by foreign trucks which are now almost in the majority.

This EU thing is just going down the pan.

 

[Tranona]

Lots of very rich Greeks own properties here in the UK then, do they? I rest my case!

However, tell us more about this UK tax.

And what case is that? Not sure I have seen you present an argued case - maybe you have and I have missed it. Suggest you read the newspapers or listen to the news. Proposal is to levy either additional stamp duty on purchases or a higher rate of capital gains tax on sales (or both) in property transactions when the buyer/seller is non resident. Tied up with Nick's beloved "mansion tax". Threat has taken the shine off the high end London property market recently.

Strictly speaking if you spend 6 months a year outside the UK HMRC could build a case for non residence against you and bring you into that net! However, they usually do the opposite and prove you are resident in the UK so I think you can forget about it, except of course to join in the protests with the Greeks who might be affected - in the interests of fairness - after all they are no different from UK residents who own homes in other countries, or boats in Greece - except they are potentially being discriminated against and you are not.

So, probably best to keep quiet, accept you can't do anything to stop the tax and then make your own decision as to how you arrange your affairs. After all you have two choices, either pay it or move your boat elsewhere.

 

[Steve C Cronin]

And what case is that? Not sure I have seen you present an argued case - maybe you have and I have missed it. Suggest you read the newspapers or listen to the news. Proposal is to levy either additional stamp duty on purchases or a higher rate of capital gains tax on sales (or both) in property transactions when the buyer/seller is non resident. Tied up with Nick's beloved "mansion tax". Threat has taken the shine off the high end London property market recently.

Strictly speaking if you spend 6 months a year outside the UK HMRC could build a case for non residence against you and bring you into that net! However, they usually do the opposite and prove you are resident in the UK so I think you can forget about it, except of course to join in the protests with the Greeks who might be affected - in the interests of fairness - after all they are no different from UK residents who own homes in other countries, or boats in Greece - except they are potentially being discriminated against and you are not.

So, probably best to keep quiet, accept you can't do anything to stop the tax and then make your own decision as to how you arrange your affairs. After all you have two choices, either pay it or move your boat elsewhere.

I take it then that you are all for it?

 

[charles_reed]

Fred drift, but in view of the lack of knowledge exposed on this thread, people might like to look at the latest news of UK kleptocracy which makes the Greeks look like inept beginners at fleecing non-nationals.

http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/...-tax-experts-warn-British-expats-hit-too.html

Makes one proud to be British, don't it.