The Best of GRReporter
flag_bg flag_gr flag_gb

Why is it expensive in Greece?

05 December 2010 / 18:12:15  GRReporter
4030 reads

The most hated tax in Greece can be considered to be the contribution to the state broadcaster ERT, which is included in the bill for electricity and must be paid. No matter if the room you pay for electricity is home or business office, whether there is or not a television or whether you use digital or analog receiver, the fee for ERT comes every month with the bill for electricity consumed. It is not clear how the amount due is calculated, but for an apartment of 70 square meters in Athens, where two people live ERT costs around 40 euros per quarter. This same organization, which obliges all people using electricity in Greece to contribute to it in 2010 is on the verge of bankruptcy with debt of 112 million euros and 119 million loss.

Concerts, theater, cinema and other cultural events are made more expensive with between 17% and 24% because of the special tax on public events, which is paid in addition to the VAT on the ticket. The organization for intellectual property protection on the other hand charges an additional fee for concerts and other events, the sum of which should be directed to performers in the country and abroad. After a consultation of GRReporter with local and foreign performers it became clear that so far none of the respondents has received money from them. Finally but not last in the list is the fee charged for every kilo wax for candles produced, which is charged with seven drams, or less than one euro cent. The law from the year 1937 still acts, and the amount collected from the candles in Greece is intended for the Fund for salaries and benefits of employees in the Orthodox Church.

Tags: Economy markets taxes fees high prices Greece
SUPPORT US!
GRReporter’s content is brought to you for free 7 days a week by a team of highly professional journalists, translators, photographers, operators, software developers, designers. If you like and follow our work, consider whether you could support us financially with an amount at your choice.
Subscription
You can support us only once as well.
blog comments powered by Disqus