Aphrodite 42 History

[Travelmate]

Am the current Australian owner of an Aphrodite 42 ketch. Hull No 33 built by Rex Marine in Sweden and launched in 1988. The company was taken over by Najad (Sweden)
I am trying to trace the original owner who I believe is German. The second owner was Alfred Lanz a Swiss. I am the third owner.
The reason for the search is in relation to VAT for the EU.

Tony

 

[Tranona]

Not sure how tracing the earlier owners will help with VAT. Even if VAT was paid originally, the boat loses VAT paid status once it changes hands outside the EU.

If you want to use the boat in the EU you can, if you are non-resident, apply for temporary importation for up to 18 months. There are restrictions on use and you cannot sell the boat without the buyer importing it into the EU and paying duty and VAT. It will also need to comply with the RCD and get a CE mark. All this may be possible, but typically costs between 20 and 30% of the value of the boat. These requirements are EU wide.

In the UK the RYA provides good guidance on the ins and outs of bringing a boat into the EU www.rya.org. UK customs who collect VAT are on www.hmrc.gov.uk

Hope this helps

 

[fontmell]

contact najad, they will sell you a certified copy of the original invoice if they have it which i presume is what you are after

 

[pyrojames]

If it was built and launched in the EU prior to June '98, it will be RCD exempt.

 

[jwilson]

If you bought her outside the EU and your purchase docukments show this in some way, the boat has now lost its VAT paid status, so even the original receipted VAT invoice from Rex is useless.

If you bought in the EU or can reasonably claim you did (payment in £ or Euros, no documents showing otherwise) your Bill of Sale plus a copy of the invoice is what you need. Some yacht builders are helpful in providing these copies, or at least a letter certifying VAT was paid when new. Others are out of business or simply won't help.

 

[Travelmate]

Najad has refused to help!!!!!!!!!
It seems that irrespective of the history, the fact that I paid Aussie$ in Aust negates any VAT exemption that I might claim

 

[Tranona]

It is actually irrelevant how you paid for the boat and in what currency. Its status depends on it being in use in the EU and VAT having been paid. Once it moves outside the EU it potentially loses that status, although the owner at the stage it left the EU can bring it back under certain conditions and keep VAT paid status - for example an EU citizen going on a round the world voyage and returning to the EU. If, however, ownership changes outside the EU, VAT becomes payable again if the boat is brought back. The amount is based on the sale price or valuation if there is not a recent sale price.

As I pointed out in my first reply, as a non-resident you can use your boat in the EU, nominally for up to 18 months. You cannot sell it for use in the EU without paying VAT. Most boats from outside the EU also have to be CE marked, although EU manufactured boats that were in use in the EU prior to 1998 when the CE/RCD came in may be exempt from that requirement.

You have to remember that all this EU legislation is designed to ensure free movement of goods - but only within the EU. It is very effective in excluding free movement into and out of the EU and therefore denying EU citizens/residents from taking advantage of bargains available in the world outside the EU!

If you hang around these fora long enough you will see regular threads about importing boats from the US where prices are anything up to 50% lower than the UK. However, the cost of duty and VAT plus hassle often removes any financial incentive if you want to comply with the law.

 

[Gypsy]

As Tranona says, you have an 18mth period in the EU without triggering any VAT issues and if you are only intending to cruise there then it will usually be quite practical because you only need to leave the EU for a short (non-specified time) to start the clock again on a new 18mths. We cruised in the Med for 5 seasons with an AUS flag on a non-VAT boat without feeling harassed by the regulations. If you were hoping to resell the boat with VAT paid status then that is another problem/issue.

 

[Travelmate]

Thanks to all who presented the info that affects the sale of our yacht. It is evident that selling her in the EU is out of the question. Many more options available

Tony