Tax breaches totalling €92,000 found on Santorini tourist boats
Unannounced checks of 26 vessels found 12 with violations; fines of €43,000 imposed and inspections will continue, AADE says.
Unannounced tax inspections on tourist boats and catamarans operating full-day and afternoon cruises around the Greek island of Santorini uncovered breaches worth €92,000, the Independent Authority for Public Revenue of Greece (AADE) announced. Authorities imposed fines totalling €43,000 after on-site checks, and said further examinations of the companies involved will continue.
Spot checks guided by data and an algorithm
The operation, carried out under the name "I'll Take You on a Cruise 2026" (a reference to lines from an old Greek song), used available tax and statistical data and algorithmic analysis to prioritise targets for inspection. Inspectors visited the island's ports where tourist vessels berth and carried out surprise checks as ships returned from their cruises.
Inspectors focused on whether fiscal receipts were issued correctly, the proper application of value-added tax (VAT), the accepted methods of payment, and the retention and presentation of required invoices and documents.
Teams inspected 26 tourist vessels in total. Violations were found on 12 boats and included failure to issue receipts or issuing incorrect receipts; refusal or failure to present required invoices and documents; cash collections exceeding €500; and the application of a lower VAT rate than required.
AADE reported the total value linked to the discovered breaches as €92,000 and the immediate penalties imposed as €43,000. The authority said inspections will continue with detailed audits of offending companies, cross-checking of available tax data and, where necessary, extending controls to previous tax periods not yet examined.
Photo: press material from the event
