Do you need a VAT reciept if you go to France

T1ony

T1ony

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I purchased a boat in 2007, the boat is 1989, I have just noticed that I do not have a reciept from the broker I only have a bill of sale from the previous owner which does not have VAT on, if I have a trip to France can I just show the bill of sale, I attach an e-mail that the broker sent me, is this true???? sorry can't up load but quote from Boatshed, (The boat does not need a VAT reciept as it was built in the UK by Fairline at Oundle. It is only imported boats that sometimes need a VAT certificate, UK built do not.)
 
The Boatshed advice is incorrect so far as the reason is concerned. It's irrelevant that boat was built in UK.

But no worries. 99.9% chances are that the French wont ask you anything, and if unluckily you are in the 0.1% or whatever who allegedly get asked VAT details (it might be 0%, becuase afaik there is no case on record) then if if you take your UK registration, BoS, log book, service records, insurance, marina papers and other general stuff to show that you bought the boat in UK and are visiting France directly from UK, you'll be fine
 
Thanks Jfm for the info, I thought he was giving me a load of bull, I think he was not showing VAT on the sale to you know who
 
Never been asked for a VAT receipt, on my old boat 1986 I got a certified copy from the builder ( I think I was lucky) on my new 1976 boat I have a file with old receipts for some of the major bits, engine etc.
You need a Bill of sale , SSR and generally an insurance cert. Dont have out of date flares on board.
 
Dodgy customer

I have been asked by both British and Dutch customs for evidence of VAT payment. But then my boat is registered in Belgium, so that's pretty suspicious to start with.
 
T1ony said:
Thanks Jfm for the info, I thought he was giving me a load of bull, I think he was not showing VAT on the sale to you know who
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If your BoS is from the previous owner, then that's who you bought the boat from, the broker was only acting as his agent. The broker will charge VAT on his commission, but that's paid by the seller.

Whether or not VAT should have been charged to you on the sale of the boat is a matter for the previous owner, not the broker.
 
T1ony said:
I think he was not showing VAT on the sale to you know who
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I doubt that's right Tony. As NickH said, Boatshed is a broker and there is no VAT for them to deal with except on their commission

You ought, if there's any chance of success, to try to get VAT papers for the boat. I know it was 3 yrs ago and this might not be possible now. I don't think you actually have any VAT problem at all but the behaviour of the market is that a boat without VAT papers is (rightly or wrongly - let's leave that point to one side) worth less, so you might face a price chip when you come to sell the boat
 
Try Fairline. They are one of the very few builders still in business! They may well have a copy of the original invoice to the dealer or first owner. They may charge you for a copy.

However, the chances of being asked for it are pretty close to zero and although there are suggestions that it might affect the value of the boat it is unlikely for an older boat with an otherwise sound paper trail.
 
T1ony said:
I purchased a boat in 2007, the boat is 1989, I have just noticed that I do not have a reciept from the broker I only have a bill of sale from the previous owner which does not have VAT on, if I have a trip to France can I just show the bill of sale, I attach an e-mail that the broker sent me, is this true???? sorry can't up load but quote from Boatshed, (The boat does not need a VAT reciept as it was built in the UK by Fairline at Oundle. It is only imported boats that sometimes need a VAT certificate, UK built do not.)
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FWIW we have cruised most of Northern France, Med France, and the inland waterways in between and never been asked for Vat papers. Like many we only have a photocopy of the original VAT receipt as paid in 1997 by the first owners. I hope if I am ever asked, it will suffice, because its all Ive got. (acquired from the builders) We have been stopped by customs in France at least 5 times over the years and all they ever want is SSR and passports, occasionally insurance but VAT and ICC papers never.
 
Tony,

Telephone Fairline quote the hull number and they should be able to help you with a copy of a VAT receipt if they sold it direct. That is unlikely so they will probably put you in touch with the dealer who sold the boat from new.

From there it ought to be possible to get the dealership (unless its BA Peters) to pass a certified copy of the original vat receipt to you. They may make a small charge but it is a document worth having.

It is certainly worth the effort of trying as it will help if you come to sell her or indeed you are the one the French customs decide to ask for proof of VAT status.

For what its worth I have been asked for VAT proof on a delivery back from the med to the UK, so its never certain they won't ask although normally a British Reg certificate seems to pacify them.

Mike.
 
Thanks for all your input, the only thing is that when I clean and polish her several times a year ha ha, I have never seen a mold # but after polishing if you look at an angel you can see a SSR # on the stern, thanks again Tony
 
If you have it , take it, if not the majority opinion on this post is you are unlikely to be asked for it. There are 'stories' when using the French canals of death and destruction if you do not have all the correct bits of paper CEVINI for instance, but the people that I know who have done this trip say the authorities they have encountered are only interested as to whether you have a valid waterways licence for the canals!.
 
We were asked for it (the SSR, or Part 1 in our case) when boarded in Boulogne. I also know (personally) someone who only had a photocopy (same place) and was marched to an ATM to get euros for the fine.
 
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PaulGooch said:
Touch off topic and i hope i'm not hijacking the thread, but from some of the replies here, do i take it the boat needs to be on the SSR to go to France ?
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Definitely, I'd say. At least on some register - Part 1, SSR, a non UK register. I've boated in France for about 7 years and have never been asked for VAT-paid papers but have had to produce my part 1 registration literally hundreds of times. I think it would be very difficult getting by without one
 
T1ony said:
Thanks for all your input, the only thing is that when I clean and polish her several times a year ha ha, I have never seen a mold # but after polishing if you look at an angel you can see a SSR # on the stern, thanks again Tony
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Are you really really sure there's no number? I had an '86 Fairline Mirage and the number was moulded in on the stern right at the top port hand side, almost under the gunwhales/rubbing strip. Quite small letters and numbers and fairly hard to find, but once you knew it was there, clear as daylight.

Can't believe Fairline would have moulded in numbers in '86 but not in '89.
 
PaulGooch said:
Touch off topic and i hope i'm not hijacking the thread, but from some of the replies here, do i take it the boat needs to be on the SSR to go to France ?
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Suggest you go on the RYA site and look at Taking your Boat Abroad. Full information on what you need to have in the way of documentation.
 
Tranona said:
Suggest you go on the RYA site and look at Taking your Boat Abroad. Full information on what you need to have in the way of documentation.
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Not planning a trip abroad anytime soon, i was just thinking that if SSR registration is required i might get it done sometime this year, just in case. I'll also take a look on the RYA site, i seem to remember reading that once before, must have forgotten it lol. Thanks for the replies.
 
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