Taxi license transfers are free

The controversial issue of the deregulation of the taxi business has been tabled during the cabinet in progress under PM Lucas Papademos.

As stated on www.protothema.gr by the Minister of Infrastructure, Transport and Networks, M. Voridis, the transfer of licenses will be free and will be subject to the income tax code. That is, the transfer will be taxed at 20% on the amount of goodwill.

It should be clarified that the controversial issue of permits is expected to come to the negotiating table with the IMF and EU representatives in the near future, as the transfer of permits became a point of friction during the recent meeting of the minister with the Troika, who asked for further explanations on the subject.

Indeed, as circles of the Ministry indicate, there may be additional adjustments and improvements on the bill in the near future.

Specifically, according to the bill:

- A category of public use passenger cars without a meter, of 5 to 9, seats is created. These are only appointment-based, which prohibits picking up customers in the street.
- Taxi stands remain as is.

- The single tariff applies for all of Attica, except for the islands
- To determine the number of licenses (taxis and special lease), criteria pertaining to population, transportation and the environment are taken into account. The number of licenses is determined by the regional manager through his decision, bi-annually, and is based on a special mathematical formula. The rate for Athens is 2.5 (+1 -1, between 1.5 and 3.5) and 1.5 for the surrounding regions (+1 -1, ie from 0.5 to 2.5).
- Acquisition of taxi ownership is permitted for any natural or legal persons without these persons being required to have a special permission to drive a public use vehicle.

Also, the bill regulates special issues concerning the characteristics of each type of public passenger vehicle use, acquiring the special license to drive a public use vehicle, the obligations of drivers and disciplinary rules.