Buying a boat in Italy

The thing is follow the surveyor around and point at anything you think looks dodgy. Also does your surveyor crawl around the spaces where it is hard to get to? The other thing is if he turns up with a gadget that measures this or that get the make and model so you can go online and see what the gadget really does and what it can really do if the boat has just been lifted for inspection out of the water. Its limitations etc. Your best bet is to absorb as much information about your next boat and its construction from the internet. Owners sights are good up to a point but they are not going to be completely honest about the boat as they have to sell it at some point. Buyer beware......
Thanks, Dulls, we're flying out to do exactly that. :) Hopefully nothing dodgy.
 
People check the physical condition of the boat and forget the money trail.I got burnt like that .Very important to see the original Bill of Sale to show VAT was paid.It should be a wet document i.e. not a photocopy.If the paperwork isn't right I would walk away.If work has been done then receipts will be available.e.g.keel bolts, rig,engine servicing.
What happened?
People check the physical condition of the boat and forget the money trail.I got burnt like that .Very important to see the original Bill of Sale to show VAT was paid.It should be a wet document i.e. not a photocopy.If the paperwork isn't right I would walk away.If work has been done then receipts will be available.e.g.keel bolts, rig,engine servicing.
What happened? We’ve run into the same problem: they don’t seem to be able to prove that VAT has been paid, even though it’s advertised as VAT included.
 
What happened?

What happened? We’ve run into the same problem: they don’t seem to be able to prove that VAT has been paid, even though it’s advertised as VAT included.
The advert does not have to be true and the agent puts a disclaimer at the bottom of their web pages. You can understand why as they cannot tell if the owner is telling the truth or not.
 
Boats sold new may not have VAT paid because the first owner states that the boat is being exported outside of the EU.Also a
new boat purchased with the intention of charter might have had all the Input Tax reclaimed.Subsequent owners might never check and the boat could pass between several owners before somebody asks the question.Any boat made after 1983 for supply in the EU should have an original VAT invoice with evidence of the full VAT inclusive price being paid over.Best to check with HMRC if in doubt.
 
Boats sold new may not have VAT paid because the first owner states that the boat is being exported outside of the EU.Also a
new boat purchased with the intention of charter might have had all the Input Tax reclaimed.Subsequent owners might never check and the boat could pass between several owners before somebody asks the question.Any boat made after 1983 for supply in the EU should have an original VAT invoice with evidence of the full VAT inclusive price being paid over.Best to check with HMRC if in doubt.
Yes, already did and answer is the same: all boats in private ownership should have VAT paid - in EU and in UK. You said you got burnt. What happened? Did you buy a boat without VPS (even in unknowingly) and got caught out? I wonder what are the chances? As you say, a boat can pass between several owners before anyone checks, if ever...
 
Yes, already did and answer is the same: all boats in private ownership should have VAT paid - in EU and in UK. You said you got burnt. What happened? Did you buy a boat without VPS (even in unknowingly) and got caught out? I wonder what are the chances? As you say, a boat can pass between several owners before anyone checks, if ever...
You would have to look this up but is your boat an ex charter yacht or was it owned by a business or company in some way? If so it may have not had VAT paid. It possible means you have to pay it if you buy the yacht. Or maybe they have to pay it if they sell it privately....I dont know but you should investigate it. I would walk away if they cant produce the VAT. I know hard to do or knock 20% off your offer to cover your selves. I am no expert on this but i was looking at a boat a few weeks ago with no proof of VAT and did some off the cuff research which may have made me dangerous with advice.
 
Depends on the year of construction and its whereabouts on specific dates. This may help and just needs the boatyard at the time in question to formally provide a letter stating the boat was in ‘such and such’ a port/marina/hardstanding on 31/dec/92.

All yachts built in or brought into the EU on or after 1 January 1985 must be able to prove their VAT paid status. A boat built before this date is deemed to have VAT paidstatus if it was in private ownership and within the EU at midnight on 31 December 1992.
 
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