A total of 48 million euros is estimated to go into Greek state coffers in 2018 if the Greek government manages to collect tax from Airbnb-style short-term rentals.
According to estimates, more than 8,000 properties in Attica alone are being leased out to tourists illegally. Airbnb-style rentals are depriving the state of over 260 million euros every year, boosting tax evasion and supporting undeclared labor.
If implemented, Greece will be among the first countries to regulate short-term home rentals. The relevant law – still on the back-burner – calls for the creation of a registry where property owners renting out their homes as tourist accommodation will be required to sign up; places a limit on the number (four) of homes that can be rented out per owner; requires that the accommodation facility must be larger than 9 m2 with natural lighting, ventilation and heating, and must be furnished and rented out without the provision of any service except for bed linen. Tax will be withheld on transaction and paid to tax authorities each quarter. Homes can be leased out for a total of 90 days in urban and popular tourist areas and for 50 days at smaller destinations.
In the meantime, all the more cash-strapped Greeks are opting to rent out their homes in efforts to make ends meet. So much so that they are preferring to lease to tourists instead of long-term tenants.
A law to tax and rule the Airbnb-style market passed through the Greek parliament in December 2016. However, it was not implemented in time, before the start of the touristic season, the Greek Hotel Association was saying still in February.
The provisions and estimations for tax revenues from Airbnb rentals are reportedly included in the deal Greece signed with creditors in May 2.
Greece has been trying to tax Airbnb rentals since summer 2016. May be the issue stalls in the Greek plan to cash tax also from the transaction fees charged by Airbnb platform?
There are other ways to raise revenue. What about collecting parking fines and fines for traffic violations. Not enough is done here. The government is sitting on a potential gold mine
Amsterdam just legislated obligatory subscription in a. City register and renting out for more than 60 nights a year is forbidden. It is also forbidden to rent out your home If you are a tenant yourself .
Failing to subscribe can deliver fines up to 20.000€
What about taxing cigarettes? They are extremely cheap in Greece compared to the UK for example. Not only would an increased tax on cigarettes bring is millions in revenue, it would also save millions in healthcare but encouraging people to quit. To say nothing of the increase in life expectancy and the quality of life for many. Or is that too much of a vote looser to consider?
??? lots of taxes on cigarettes already. what was 2.50 3 years ago is now 3.70
Well that will pretty much kill off the Air BnB market in Greece, then.
The majority of people doing this will realise that if they abide by all the rules on tax and the number of days they can rent (not to mention all the paperwork involved), it just won’t be worth doing.
Another nail in the coffin of the Greek economy. Nice work, Tsipras.
When will these politicians realise that trying to squeeze the last cent out of these small-time renters is self-defeating? More cheap accommodation means more tourists. More tourists means more money flowing into the local economy from outside. That money may not go directly into the tax coffers, but it filters through eventually, so the government gains in the long run.
Stupidity writ large.