SaronicNet real estate agents with property and houses for sale in Hydra Island Greece one of the Greek islands in the Argo Saronic Gulf
Σαρόνικνετ Μεσιτικά Γραφεία με οικόπεδα και σπίτια για πούληση στο νησί Ύδρα, ένα από τα ελληνικά νησία στο Αργοσαρονικό κόλπο

Swimming Pools on Hydra Island Greece

Swimming pools are illegal on the Greek island of Hydra unless they were built prior to the change of law circa 1980. Legal pools, which are few on Hydra, are estimated for tax purposes when you buy a property as living space.

Also if a property has a legal swimming pool it must be declared annually on the E1 tax form and income tax must be paid on the assessed value for that year.

Foreigner owners who can prove that they deposited funds to cover the assessed value within the given year, from a foreign bank into their Greek bank account, are exempt from paying income tax. But if foreigners can't prove that they transferred sufficient funds from outside the country will have to pay income tax.

For example, a pool in 2006 was assessed at approximately €6800 but the value increased in 2007 to approximately €11,200. The income tax due on €11,200 for 2007 is approximately €145 and must be paid by the end of March 2008 which is when the annual E1 declaration is due. Foreigners with proof of having transferred sufficient funds into Greece to cover the assessed value (of 11,200) should attach a copy of the proof to their E1 declaration when they submit it to their tax office so they don't have to pay the €145.

Full details of how to complete forms, due dates and where to submit them, and an explanation of how illegal pools can affect property buyers on Hydra, along with suggestions for legal alternatives can be found in the SaronicNet "Insider's Guide" which is given free of charge exclusively to SaronicNet customers.