Greek charter VAT 2027
Greek Yacht Charter VAT for 2027: What You Will Actually Pay
Booking a Greek charter for 2027? The VAT line on your contract follows the yacht's certification, not the headline rate. Here is how the 5.2% to 12% figures come about, with 2027 worked examples.
Last updated August 2026
The 2027 VAT picture, in plain language
2027 worked examples, yacht by yacht
Four examples using the certified rate structures Greek rate sheets show, applied to typical 2027 charter bases. A crewed sailing catamaran at 6.5%: base €33,000 for the week. VAT = 6.5% × €33,000 = €2,145. Total before APA = €35,145. A 30-metre motor yacht certified for international cruises at 5.2%: base €120,000. VAT = 5.2% × €120,000 = €6,240. At the statutory 13% the same week would carry €15,600; the certification saves €9,360. A 23-metre motor yacht invoiced at 12%: base €40,000. VAT = 12% × €40,000 = €4,800. Total = €44,800. The ceiling case: a weekly crewed charter on a yacht without a reduction certification carries the full reduced statutory rate of 13%, so a €100,000 base carries €13,000 of VAT and never more. Any 2027 quote showing a higher rate on a weekly crewed charter deserves a hard question. What VAT never touches: the APA, which is a provisioning float held in trust rather than a fee, and the crew gratuity, which passes directly from you to the crew. On a €100,000 base with €30,000 APA, VAT applies to the €100,000 only.
Chartering this year instead?
The 2026 edition of this guide, with 2026 rate-sheet examples, remains live for charters sailing this season.
2026 charters
Notes from George for 2027 bookings
- For 2027 quotes, ask two questions before comparing offers: is the rate VAT-inclusive or exclusive, and at which certified rate. Most Greek brokers quote exclusive of VAT, and the certified rate differs yacht by yacht.
- The certified rate is a real shortlisting criterion for 2027. Two similar yachts on the same week can differ by thousands of euros on the VAT line alone, and I check it before a yacht reaches your shortlist.
- Early-bird 2027 bookings carry no VAT risk: the contract states the rate and the invoice follows the contract. If legislation ever changed mid-cycle, the contract is the document that governs, which is exactly why it matters that the rate is written in it.
- Greece remains the sharp end of the Mediterranean on this line for 2027 planning: the statutory ceiling of 13% already undercuts French charter VAT at 20% and Italian at 22%, and the certified reductions widen that gap further.
- Zero VAT applies to the crew gratuity, in 2027 as always. It is a direct payment from charterer to crew, not a taxable service fee.
Frequently asked
Questions we get about Greek Yacht Charter VAT for 2027: What You Will Actually Pay
What VAT rate will I pay on a 2027 Greek yacht charter?
The rate follows the yacht, not the year. Statutory rates are 13% for commercial crewed charters over 48 hours and 24% for short, static or bareboat arrangements, and certification-based reductions produce the invoiced figures of 5.2%, 6.5%, 7.8% or 12%. These are the rates currently in force and they apply to 2027 bookings unless legislation changes; your quote and contract state the exact figure.
Could Greek charter VAT change before summer 2027?
Rates are set by national legislation and no change has been announced. If a change ever came, your signed contract is the document that governs your charter, which is one practical reason to book with the rate stated in writing.
If I book my 2027 charter now, when is VAT actually paid?
VAT is invoiced with the charter fee per the payment schedule in your contract, at the certified rate the contract states. Early booking does not create a separate VAT event.
Does VAT apply to the APA on a 2027 charter?
No. The APA is a trust-held provisioning float, not a charter fee, so VAT applies to the charter base only. Items purchased from the APA carry their own VAT from the suppliers, as with any purchase in Greece.
Why do two similar yachts quote different VAT for the same 2027 week?
Because the invoiced rate follows each yacht's certification papers. A yacht certified for international cruises can be invoiced at 5.2%, one certified for Greek waters at 6.5%, and a comparable yacht without those certifications at 12%. It is a genuine difference in the all-in cost and worth checking early.
Is the 13% figure I see quoted online wrong?
It is incomplete rather than wrong. 13% is the statutory ceiling for weekly crewed charters; what real 2027 rate sheets show is the certified rate per yacht, usually 5.2% to 12%. No weekly crewed charter should be invoiced above 13%.
How does Greek charter VAT compare with France or Italy for 2027?
Favourably. The Greek statutory ceiling of 13% sits below French charter VAT at 20% and Italian at 22%, and Greek certified rates of 5.2% to 12% are frequently the lowest invoiced figures in the Mediterranean.
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