XpatAthens

XpatAthens

The method and implications of becoming a tax resident of Greece is one of the first things you will need to understand if you are considering moving to Greece. It will have implications in your daily life, and before you know it, after living in Greece for a week or two, you will be asking yourself “how do I become a tax resident of Greece?” This short guide will take you through the steps of becoming a tax resident in Greece.


Why do I need to become a tax resident in Greece?
If you stay over 183 days in Greece you are considered a tax resident. It’s a good idea to register as a tax resident so you don’t have any issues with the Greek authorities down the line including potential penalties. In addition, if you are living in Greece, it’s a lot easier to have your tax residency completed for ever day tasks such as medical, buying and selling cars and accessing government services.

What does it mean to be a tax resident in Greece?
If you become a tax resident of Greece than you will be required to pay tax on your worldwide income. You need to plan accordingly for this, especially if you have properties or other income overseas as this will need to be taxed.

There are some tax regimes in Greece which are particularly attractive for foreign residents who move their tax incentives to Greece. These have been designed to make it attractive for foreigners to move their tax residency to Greece and to move to Greece.

These include the 50% tax discounts (Non-Dom Tax Regime) which entitles people to a 50% tax break if they move their business or employment to Greece, as well as the special tax regime for foreign pensioners which offers a flat tax rate of 7%. Our tax team can help you understand if you are eligible for either of these incentives and guide you through the process of making an application.

Should I use a tax representative to assist me in Greece?
If you stay in Greece over the 183 day period (there are a number of more specific requirements and definitions which our tax team can assist you with), you may prefer to appoint a tax representative. This is helpful if you don’t speak the language or if you don’t understand the tax system. Your tax representative can be an accountant, lawyer or financial advisor and you can use them to manage your communication, work through the process, submit paper work and generally authorize them to act on your behalf for your dealings with the tax office in Greece. They can update your residency status in Greece and also make the appropriate declarations to the Greek tax authorities and ensure that you comply with all the laws and regulations.

If you plan to stay in Greece for longer than 183 days, you should definitely consult a tax professional and declare your income as required. We're here to help - feel free to reach out to us with your questions.


This content has been created in collaboration with our trusted partner Tsaks Consulting.

Wednesday, 18 February 2015 12:43

The Beautiful Island Of Hydra

Hydra, built in the shape of an amphitheatre on a slope overlooking the Argosaronic gulf, is one of the most romantic destinations in Greece. Traditional stone mansions, narrow cobblestoned streets, secluded squares and above all the banning of cars and the use of around 500 donkeys as means of public transportation, explain the reason why Hydra preserved its distinctive atmosphere through the passage of time.

 

The island experienced exceptional economic growth in the past thanks to its great naval and commercial activity. The Hydriots contributed significantly also to the 1821 War of Independence as their powerful fleet participated in crucial sea battles. It is a rather impressive fact that such a tiny island is the birthplace of five Greek Prime Ministers!

Lavish stone mansions owned by important families (Voulgaris, Kountouriotis, Tombazis, Kriezis, Bountouris, etc), and built by Italian artisans reveal the wealth that experienced the island in the past. Today most of these mansions house the island’s museums. 300 churches and 6 monasteries spread around the island as well as the cannons and the statues of the Independence War heroes still standing at the balconies of the islands create a romantic mosaic.

As you walk along the waterfront, the heart of the town, you encounter monuments, churches, canons, museums, old mansions, statues of famous heroes, the old gunpowder store, shops and cafes, while picturesque winding streets lead you to neighborhoods located at the upper part of the town, as well as to the old neighborhood of Kiafas.


To read more, go to visitgreece.gr

The next few days leading up to the European Summit scheduled for the 12th of February are going to be critical for Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, whose main priorities will be to manage expectations and preserve the peace in Greece and Europe.

An unnamed government official told To Vima on Monday evening that “we may see smoked for the Commission’s building on Wednesday”, in reference to Mr. Tsipras’ meeting with Jean-Claude Juncker in Brussels on the 4th of February. The Greek Premier is then scheduled to meet French President Francois Hollande, while Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis is rumored to see Wolfgang Schäuble next week, ahead of the Summit.

The goals are clear, to establish a channel of communication with Paris, Rome and Berlin and then to define the negotiation framework between Athens and the Commission. After Mr. Tsipras discusses his police statements next week, he will hope to attend the Summit in a friendly, rather than hostile, environment.

Meanwhile the German Chancellor Angela Merkel will be meeting with US President Barack Obama early next week, indicating that there will be a wealth of behind-the-scenes debates and developments.

To read more, please visit tovima.gr

Friday, 19 June 2015 07:00

The Acropolis Museum Turns 6!

As part of celebrations for its sixth birthday, the Acropolis Museum will launch a series of exhibitions featuring archaeological treasures from small museums across Greece, with “Samothrace – The Mysteries of the Great Gods” on June 20, 2015.

On the same day, a concert in the museum courtyard will feature the Athens Municipality Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir in works from the interwar period, the cinema and Greek operetta. All exhibition areas and the restaurant will remain open from 8am to midnight and admission will be reduced at 3 euros for all visitors.

On June 21, the museum will organize a scientific conference focusing on recent archaeological research in Samothrace.

Organized in collaboration with ephorates of Rodopi and Evros,under the guidance Samothrace antiquities expert Dimitrios Matsas,the temporary show features 252 ancient artefacts assembled in groups on the basis of their relationship to the island’s sanctuary, where visitors were initiated into the island cult. The exhibit will run through to September 30.

To read more please visit: Greek Travel Pages

Dating back 5,000 years, the Greek Orthodox town of Levissi, once known as Kayakov, was a village of 10,000 people. However, in 1922, the village went through an ‘ethnic cleanse’ and the people were forced to leave their land and heritage. Now, American filmmaker Joerg Schodl has documented what is left of Levissi in his documentary ‘Ghosts of Levissi.

Schodl tells the tale of the small Greek community in Asia Minor that was torn apart during the final days of the Ottoman Empire. It focuses on the disappearance of the population practically overnight thanks to campaigns, designed to scare Greeks from Levissi and nearby Macri (known as Fethiye), included offensives by Turks.

Since then, the homes have remained vacant, left to decay after being further damaged by a huge earthquake in 1957. The land, however, has been used for summer festivals, but the plan to lease the area and auction it off for commercial interests are causing an uproar among Turks and Greeks with roots to Levissi.

Schodl had the help of members from the Greek community in Melbourne, Adelaide, Sydney, Perth, and Brisbane and he was able to find thirteen descendants of Levissi families. More descendants were found in Toronto, Rhodes, London, Athens and Istanbul.

To read this article in full, please visit: Greek Reporter 

See the Ghosts of Levissi trailer here: 

Tuesday, 23 May 2017 21:41

April 4 - Practical Living In Athens

Find out which applications will make your life in Athens easier, which days during 2017 you may visit Museums for free and all you need to know about shopping fresh at your local 'Laiki Agora'!

Please click 
HERE to view this issue of our newsletter!
 
Remember to stay connected with us through our weekly newsletterFacebook, and Twitter!
Tuesday, 16 October 2018 07:00

Two Of The World's Best Bars In Athens

The World's 50 Best Bars recently announced this year's winners and once again, The Clumsies and Baba aur Rum are featured amongst the world's best bars.

The Clumsies, located on Praxitelous Street in central Athens, ranked 7th on the list. “With three floors that draw in the crowds all day, The Clumsies has it all – from coffee to homely-but-refined Greek food to leading-edge cocktails."

The Baba aur Rum, located on 6, Klitiou Street in downtown Athens, ranked 22 in the world. The judges highlighted, “Through warm Athenian hospitality and refined international cocktails, Baba Au Rum continues to be considered one of the best bars in the world.”

London’s “Dandelyan” and “American Bar” were named the World’s best, taking first and second place, followed by Singapore’s “Manhattan” bar in third.

To read this article in full, please visit: Greek Travel Pages
Living in country that’s less than 250 years old, it’s understandable that some Americans decided to import a little extra history from abroad. There is a faux-Venice in Las Vegas, a Stonehenge II in Texas, and a replica of the Athens Parthenon in Nashville, Tennessee.
 
Tennessee’s full-scale replica of the Parthenon was created in 1897 for the Centennial Exposition in Tennessee. The recreated ‘Parthenon’ served as the exposition’s art gallery and intended to amplify the city’s self-declared reputation as the ‘Athens of the South.’
 
Even though the Nashville ‘Parthenon’ was intended to be a temporary structure, by the time the fair ended, the unique structure had grown on the local population. Over the years the building underwent major restorations and still stands proud amidst a large public park.
 
Finally, in 1990 a 42-foot-tall replica of the statue of Athena was unveiled. While the replica appears opulent, concessions were made: The original was coated in over 2,400 pounds of gold leaf, whereas Nashville’s version boasts just eight pounds.
 
Despite intricate attention to detail, there are some major differences between the original Parthenon and the one in Tennessee. The Athens Parthenon, the most prominent landmark in Athens, is built on a hill and can only be approached from behind; the replica in Nashville is situated in a park and can be entered from the side or front. Also, each structure’s building materials differ significantly; the original was built from gleaming marble while the Nashville version is made of concrete.
 
Compared to the ancient ruins in Greece, the Nashville ‘Parthenon’ boasts a major historical detail: color. Along with other parts of the building, the massive Athena statue is painted in bright colors. It’s a bit odd-looking by contemporary standards, given that people are used to the inaccurate notion that ancient buildings and statues were dominated by a simple, unadorned white marble aesthetic. In fact, the ancient Greeks painted all of their statues and seeing them painted in bright colors is actually more historically accurate.
 
Even though it’s odd to think of a Parthenon outside of Athens, especially such a new and shiny version of the original masterpiece, the ‘Parthenon’ in Nashville has definitely become a vital part of the city’s landscape and heritage.
 
 
To read this article in full, please visit: Artsy.net
 
Monday, 28 January 2019 12:22

Athens Quinta Hostel

Athens Quinta Hostel is a wonderful, recently renovated neoclassical building, in one of the most interesting and trendy neighborhoods of Athens.

An architectural jewel in the city centre with vintage decoration and retro aesthetics based on unique art objects.

Everything is old, everything is authentic, everything has a story to tell.

The crystal ashtrays, the elaborate frames, the marble tables, the heavy wooden furniture and, of course, the fer forge of ‘the mother’ in the fairytale inner courtyard of the building make your stay different from what you have experienced so far. As for your day and night outs, it is located in the most artistic and lively corner of the city, just a few minutes from the tube.
According to a statement by the Greek Ministry of Culture, two monumental royal tombs dating from about 3,500 years ago near the Bronze Age palace of Pylos in the Peloponnese have been discovered by American archaeologists.

The ministry stated that the domed roofs of both tombs had collapsed during antiquity, filling them with so much earth and rubble that tomb raiders couldn't get in to ravage them. Among the recovered grave goods are a golden seal ring and a gold talisman of an ancient Egyptian goddess.

It is worth mentiong that the Mycenaean era, which dates from about 1650 B.C. to 1100 B.C., was the foundation for many Ancient Greek myths and legends, including that of the Trojan War. The graves lie near the Palace of Pylos, which features in Homer's Odyssey as the seat of the wise King Nestor.


To read this article in full, please visit: ekathimerini.com
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