New Year Brings New Taxes to Greek Isles

If you’re traveling to the Greek islands of Ios, Amorgos, Skopelos, Folegandros, Kythnos, Serifos, Sikinos, Anafi, Kimolos, Iraklia, Donoussa Thirasia, Schinoussa, Koufonissia, then be ready to pay more for accommodation, fuel and basic food staples.

Effective January 1, value-added tax (VAT) on hotel stays and rooms to let increased from 9 percent to 13 percent as did the final cost of food items including fruits, vegetables, olive oil and meats. At the same time, the prices of alcoholic beverages and processed foods, oil, petrol and LP gas have also increased as VAT on those products is now 24 percent from 17 percent. These islands have been stripped of a special VAT status (reduced by 30 percent) which applied until now to medications, hotels, books and magazines, basic food items, fuel as well as coffee.

Meanwhile, islands at the forefront of the refugee influx – Lesvos, Limnos, Agios Efstratios, Chios, Psara, Oinousses, Samos, Ikaria, Kos, Kalymnos, Nisyros, Patmos, Leros, Symi, Astypalea, Chalki, Kastellorizo and Samothrace – will continue to have a 30 percent discount on VAT rates through to December 31.