'Cruise I will take you' operation finds tax evasion on 1 in 2 tourist boats in Santorini

A recent operation in Santorini by the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE) has uncovered significant tax evasion among tourist boat operators. Dubbed 'Cruise I will take you 2026,' the targeted initiative revealed that roughly half of the inspected vessels were not complying with tax regulations.

The AADE auditors conducted surprise checks at the port of Vlychada and other docking areas, focusing on tourist vessels returning from daily and afternoon cruises. The inspections primarily examined the issuance of receipts, correct application of VAT rates, payment methods, and the proper documentation and presentation of required paperwork.

Out of 26 tourist boats examined, 12 were found to have committed tax violations, representing a 46% non-compliance rate. Common offenses included failing to issue receipts, issuing incorrect receipts, not presenting or refusing to provide required documents, accepting cash payments exceeding 500 euros, and applying lower VAT rates than stipulated.

These violations amounted to a total of 92,000 euros in undeclared transactions. Consequently, fines totaling 43,000 euros were imposed on the non-compliant businesses. The AADE stated that investigations into the offending businesses are ongoing, involving further analysis and cross-referencing of available tax data, with inquiries potentially extending to previous, uninspected tax periods.