France vs Ireland for EU VAT payment?

[GTom]

My boat is on the hard for the next few months, I might very well miss the opportunity to keep the EU VAT status.

Any experience, how the French or the Irish charge VAT on a 30 years old boat? I am guessing that launching the boat too early and keeping her in the EU-side port for 2-3 months until I have time to bring her back could cost me more, than a nice&shiny fresh French/Irish/etc VAT bill.

Relocating to EU territory is not completely off the table, and I'd like to know how much the worst-case scenario would cost.

 

[Roberto]

It probably depends on the type/size of boat, in one case for French flag registration a (formerly US flagged IIRC) old boat tax was roughly calculated only on the amount of fuel it had in the tanks.

 

[GTom]

That sounds very reasonable . I'll do hull polishing and engine cleaning after the deal then.