Greece: Import VAT payment deferral in Greece

International Tax Review is part of Legal Benchmarking Limited, 1-2 Paris Garden, London, SE1 8ND

Copyright © Legal Benchmarking Limited and its affiliated companies 2025

Accessibility | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Modern Slavery Statement

Greece: Import VAT payment deferral in Greece

On March 7 2013, Greek Law 4132/2013 introduced a special regime for suspension of the requirement to pay VAT upon importation of non-excisable goods by foreign taxable persons having a VAT registration number in Greece. This applies to the extent that such goods are mainly used for exports to third countries or intra-EU deliveries to EU countries. Practically this introduces a deferral of payment of import VAT; while import VAT shall be assessed on the customs documents upon importation, the importer will account for this VAT on their periodic VAT return. To take advantage of this regime, a foreign taxable person intending to act as importer of record in Greece should apply in advance to the Greek Ministry of Finance to obtain a state license. The license shall be granted providing the following conditions are cumulatively met:

  • The prospective importer is a taxable person, who has a VAT registration in Greece, but is not established for VAT or corporate tax purposes locally.

  • The goods are not subject to excise taxes.

  • The prospective importer will import goods of a statistical value exceeding €300 million ($387 million) on an annual basis. For the first five years of application of the import VAT payment suspension regime, the respective threshold has been set to €120 million. If the prospective importer is a member of a group of companies, the above annual threshold must be exceeded either on a company level or on a group consolidated level.

  • The amount of VAT, payment of which has been suspended, is reported on the importer's periodic VAT return filed locally in Greece.

  • Goods reflecting 90% or more of the value of the goods imported annually are used to carry out either intra-EU deliveries or exports. If the prospective importer is a member of a group of companies, this annual threshold can be exceeded either on a company level or on a group consolidated level.

The above law is already effective since March 7 2013, but administrative guidelines are expected in May 2013, to apply this in practice (that is apply, and obtain the license).

Manos N Tountas (manos.n.tountas@gr.ey.com)

Ernst & Young

Tel: +30 210 2886 387

Website: www.ey.com

more across site & shared bottom lb ros

More from across our site

It should be easy for advisers to be transparent about costs, Brown Rudnick partner Matthew Sharp said in response to exclusive ITR in-house data
The sprawling legislation phases out Joe Biden-era green tax incentives for businesses; in other news, the UK will reportedly maintain its DST despite US pressure
New French legislation should create a more consistent legal environment for taxing gains from management packages, say Bruno Knadjian and Sylvain Piémont of Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer
The South Africa vs SC ruling may embolden the tax authority to take a more aggressive approach to TP assessments, an adviser tells ITR
Indirect tax professionals now rate compliance as a bigger obstacle than technology and automation; in other news, Italy approved a VAT cut on art sales
AI-powered tax agents are likely to be the next big development in tax technology, says Russell Gammon of Tax Systems
FTI Consulting’s EMEA head of employment tax and reward tells ITR about celebrating diversity in the profession, his love of musicals, and what makes tax cool
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and US President Donald Trump have agreed that the countries will look to conclude a deal by July 21, 2025
The firm’s lack of transparency regarding its tax leaks scandal should see the ban extended beyond June 30, senators Deborah O’Neill and Barbara Pocock tell ITR
Despite posing significant administrative hurdles, digital services taxes remain ‘the best way forward’ for emerging economies, says Neil Kelley, COO of Ascoria
Gift this article