Marinakis: Prime Minister’s Initiative to Exempt Small Boats from Ship and Luxury Taxes

"We are not talking about luxury boats, among them there is also the category of amateur fishermen," the government spokesman said.

Clarifications on the tax on small second-class recreational boats included in the new law of the Ministry of National Economy and Finance entitled “New Development Program for Public Investments and Additional Provisions” were given by government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis in an interview with Skye radio station.

As Marinakis said, “An exemption was announced for boats up to 7 meters, basically we are not talking about luxury boats, among them there is also the category of amateur fishermen. Here we have and retroactive application for the last few years, from 2020 to 2023, that is, those who have paid tax will be refunded. I happen to know, it is one of those which, obviously formally, goes through the Ministry of National Economy and Finance, but it is what we call a personal initiative of the Prime Minister, which is a result of the many positive things that the tours do.”

According to his statements, the Prime Minister actively engages with citizens across Greece rather than isolating himself in the Maximos Mansion. He listens to their concerns and acknowledges that while not all issues have been resolved, he has taken action on significant matters that have been brought to his attention

Marinakis said further: “I don’t have a boat either, not up to 7 meters, not over 7 meters. This makes sense and nothing would happen if it didn’t make sense, because we are essentially referring to taxes that serve recreational purposes or refer to luxury living. Neither of these is related to this particular case, so it was illogical to include this tax all these years. Included in this tax was this category of boats up to 7 meters and it is right that these people are essentially exempt and will be refunded.”

Then in response to a question about the taxation and age of boats, the government spokesman said he would forward the request in a rationalization of various tax rates, noting that the tax exemption for boats up to 7 meters is the 61st tax to be reduced or abolished by the ND government.