Greece VAT Exemption

[rrees]

I have bought a second hand boat which was VAT exempt under a LAW when Greece was joining the EU. On the original bill of sale between the previous owner and seller, there is a stamp by the Greece Taxation clearance authority.
Does anyone have any information or experences relating to problems entering countries without a VAT certificate. Any information welcome

 

[billskip]

Hi as far as im aware all boats aged 1985 or older sold in greece became vat exempt but a paper stating the boat is free of all encombrences(spel?) should be stamped by the aurthorites.if your boat is post 1985 you will be liable for vat.

Bill
www.aegeansailing.co.uk
www.iggedo.com
www.macsyachting.com

 

[Mr Cassandra]

Hi Bill I have just spoken to Manos he is in Darlington untill the 5th Wish you well and a H N Y. cheers bob t

boss1

 

[GAJ]

I have the same or a similar stamp on our bill of sale. We bough the boat in Greece and used a lawyer to complete the transaction, he checked with the local VAT, Police etc etc about the boats status. He then completed on our behalf once the VAT status was confirmed by the Athens VAT office.(Hence the stamp)

I then contacted the RYA Legal Dept and the Customs and Excise, both of whom said that a VAT ruling made in any EU country applies to all the EU and therefore if the boat is exempt in Greece then it's exempt everywhere.
The rules in Greece did change at the end of April last year and now there is no exemtion from VAT. By the way the pre 1985 rule did not apply to boats registered on the Greek Profesional Register.
BUT.. I've yet to test the theory out. Best of luck!