Help me to understand the bureaucracy of exporting boat from UK to EU

Just to add a bit to this. Perhaps you should contact Swedish customs about valuation as that is not prescribed by the EU as being other than value based and it is up to individual states to determine the method of valuation - and there are huge variations across the EU. I also think they will be less concerned about registration than in other states as historically they have not had a formal registration system for small boats. Perhaps more important that you personally comply with immigration controls moving in and out of Schengen
 
Polish flag ,
may British cruisers who couldn't re register under SSR have gone that way, an agent would normally do it all for you , as I understand it you only need to do it once , unlike the SSR .
Other then being a money making exercise I can't see why you have to renew the SSR every five years , do car owners re new there registration every five year ? No.
Don't listen to tho who says the Polish registion isn't legal,

Leaving the UK ,
If you fill in the C1331 on line that will be enough to show you left the UK and not an over stayer,
You don't need to do any thing else.
Arrive in Sweden coming from a third world country no doubt there be some kind of checking.
Vat and import
As a European citizen taken a boat back into Europe you will have to import it and pay vat , the reality is with such a small and low value boat no body will bother you ,
The problem may be when you come to sell it,
But let's face it , if I was going to buy a boat for a few k would I be asking the seller to prove vat was paid,
I should think hundreds boats sold each year without vat prove.
On the other hand you are liable for vat and it will be so little for peace of mind pay it and be done with.
I will add in all the years we cruised all over Europe and out side Europe we never been ask for VAT prove,
Since 2020 we never Been ask how long the boat been in the EU and we never been ask where vat been paid or if vat been paid,
Although I have read that some UK flag boats have been,
Which is another reason I guess some are changing flag.
 
I will definitely fix checkout papers.

However, I see that it might be difficult obtain Polish eu flag quickly. It might take more than two weeks due high season according to one company I was in contact with.

What would happen if I sailed out without registration? I read one gets fine of £1000 and the boat gets detained.

What a burecrautic nightmare. I appreciate your answers.
 
tomasis said:
I will definitely fix checkout papers.

However, I see that it might be difficult obtain Polish eu flag quickly. It might take more than two weeks due high season according to one company I was in contact with.

What would happen if I sailed out without registration? I read one gets fine of £1000 and the boat gets detained.

What a burecrautic nightmare. I appreciate your answers.
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For a start boat under 15 mts or 16mts ( someone will correct me ) in the UK dont need to be registered, thats British boats .
the issues is going to be when arrived at the there end, especially ur flying a red ensign
Arriving in Sweden flying a Swedish flag ,???
 
tomasis said:
I will definitely fix checkout papers.

However, I see that it might be difficult obtain Polish eu flag quickly. It might take more than two weeks due high season according to one company I was in contact with.

What would happen if I sailed out without registration? I read one gets fine of £1000 and the boat gets detained.

What a burecrautic nightmare. I appreciate your answers.
Click to expand...
Depends on the state where you are "caught". France is an on the spot fine, Spain depends on where you are and who catches you. Suspect as I suggested earlier Sweden is likely to be more relaxed.

Remember these rules are primarily based on commercial shipping where "flag state" has a whole different meaning whereas for leisure boats it is largely just symbolic. While the requirement is under international maritime law its enforcement or otherwise is with the state you are entering.
 
tomasis said:
I will definitely fix checkout papers.
However, I see that it might be difficult obtain Polish eu flag quickly. It might take more than two weeks due high season according to one company I was in contact with.
What would happen if I sailed out without registration? I read one gets fine of £1000 and the boat gets detained.
What a burecrautic nightmare. I appreciate your answers.
Click to expand...

If you can prove registration had been applied for and just awaiting paperwork, that would be a better position than having nothing but, possible penalty often depends on the official you're dealing with at the time.
 
tomasis said:
In UK during the brexit... I pay taxes in Sweden. Can the boat remain uk registered ?
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So you bought a boat in the UK some 6 years ago.

At that time you were resident in the UK or in Sweden?
I understand that you are now resident in Sweden.

If you were resident in the UK at the time, then there may me some kind of return of goods relief for returning the boat back to Sweden, your home country? This will depend on Swedish laws and regulations.
More unlikely but not impossible is that you may be able to bring the boat back (it was EU VAT paid, and is still UK VAT paid) to Sweden even if you were not resident in Sweden. You will need to check the laws of Sweden.
I don't think there are many experts in Swedish law on this forum.
You need to talk to some one at a Swedish tax office.

After all when you move house back to your home country, you do not pay VAT again on all your furniture (in almost all civilized countries). Even if moving from a country outside the EU.
Boats and cars are treated in a similar kind of way - within limitations of time (which probably vary from country to country) from when you moved to when you "imported" the car/boat.

[A German friend of mine moved from the USA to France and imported his almost new Corvette car and his almost new Ducati motorbike. He did not have to pay any taxes provided he did not resell within 6 months. He did sell about 9 months later with no issues whatsoever. Both vehicules were by then French registered and on French plates.]

If however, you sail the boat to another EU country, then you will be liable to pay VAT immediately on arrival.

Note that the VAT is based on market value at the time of import. Not how much you paid for it.
So you might be able to justify that the boat has almost 0 value by saying you paid X for it 6 years ago, but now the sails and rigging need to be replaced, the engine needs replacing to make it comparable to boats on the market. Together these add up to a substantial part of what you paid for it.

The previous owner of my boat had it built in Canada. Its first sail was to sail across the Atlantic to Cowes, Isle of Wight. The agreed value on importation was about 25% of the build cost in Canada as the boat, it was argued and accepted by HMRC, was well and truly used.
 
Sailaboutvic, I googled that. It is for UK residents ...sailing unregistered boats. My main worry is not get " caught" in UK..id believe eu countries are more relaxed. Boat registration is simple in Sweden though it needs a physical person to inspect.

However, I did proceed the order of Polish eu flag as I deal with the another company. They say most likely 4-5 days. Hopefully.. I was encouraged by Grahames post so I save all proof of application.

I also asked their VAT guy and see what kind of solution he offers through Holland. I want some piece of mind.

Westernman, many good points. I take some inspirations from your text and making up a strategy to "bash " my own boat in case they ask a high price of vat to pay. I decided leave gelcoat and antislip work so the boat remains ugly. I regret hull side paints ?

Another thing I forgot to mention. Recently I read the old conversation with the seller. Actually my boat Is ex vat. So I had import even under the pre- brexit period. So its fine to pay VAT in my case.

Tranona, I will sail straight to Denmark/Sweden without entering any marinas. So I will check out from the port where my boat is now.
 
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tomasis said:
Sailaboutvic, I googled that. It is for UK residents ...sailing unregistered boats. My main worry is not get " caught" in UK..id believe eu countries are more relaxed. Boat registration is simple in Sweden though it needs a physical person to inspect.

However, I did proceed the order of Polish eu flag as I deal with the another company. They say most likely 4-5 days. Hopefully.. I was encouraged by Grahames post so I save all proof of application.

I also asked their VAT guy and see what kind of solution he offers through Holland. I want some piece of mind.

Westernman, many good points. I take some inspirations from your text and making up a strategy to "bash " my own boat in case they ask a high price of vat to pay. I decided leave gelcoat and antislip work so the boat remains ugly. I regret hull side paints ?

Another thing I forgot to mention. Recently I read the old conversation with the seller. Actually my boat Is ex vat. So I had import even under the pre- brexit period. So its fine to pay VAT in my case.

Tranona, I will sail straight to Denmark/Sweden without entering any marinas. So I will check out from the port where my boat is now.
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Are you sure you want to go and pay VAT in Sweden? 25%.
Go to France (or almost anywhere else).
It is cheaper. 20%. And as you are pissing off afterwards to some where else they might be inclined to be flexible on the valuation.
 
Yeah I was thinking what countries are most generous. But if I'm able negotiate good value, so it'd be OK with 5 percent difference. Also I have too little time to "wander" as I have only 15 days to reach the destination ?
 
SSR is a registration for UK residents, but you can register on it now because you are UK resident. Then transfer to the Swedish register when you get there.
 
tomasis said:
Sailaboutvic, I googled that. It is for UK residents ...sailing unregistered boats. My main worry is not get " caught" in UK..id believe eu countries are more relaxed. Boat registration is simple in Sweden though it needs a physical person to inspect.

However, I did proceed the order of Polish eu flag as I deal with the another company. They say most likely 4-5 days. Hopefully.. I was encouraged by Grahames post so I save all proof of application.

I also asked their VAT guy and see what kind of solution he offers through Holland. I want some piece of mind.

Westernman, many good points. I take some inspirations from your text and making up a strategy to "bash " my own boat in case they ask a high price of vat to pay. I decided leave gelcoat and antislip work so the boat remains ugly. I regret hull side paints ?

Another thing I forgot to mention. Recently I read the old conversation with the seller. Actually my boat Is ex vat. So I had import even under the pre- brexit period. So its fine to pay VAT in my case.

Tranona, I will sail straight to Denmark/Sweden without entering any marinas. So I will check out from the port where my boat is now.
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You won't get "caught" in the UK as you are not entering, but leaving. westernman raises a good point about seeking relief from VAT if you are taking up residence in Sweden after a period resident elsewhere. Returning Resident relief is in the EU VAT rules for chattels owned by a person who qualifies and includes boats.

It does not matter what the current VAT status is - what you say about the previous owner suggests that it was illegally imported into the UK/(EU as was) because even a foreign owned boat cannot stay in either for 6 years without being imported and paying VAT. You may also from what you have said own a boat that is not certified for use in the EU - what is it, where and when was it built? Does it have a CE plate?

I would urge you to clarify all this with the Swedish authorities before you enter as you may well found the boat impounded if you are not able to import it. Far more important to sort this out than registration.
 
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