Help required: exporting boat to the EU

[MountainGoat]

I don't think anybody here will be of any help as this is an EU/Portuguese issue.
However you will almost certainly be able to avoid paying VAT as you have become an EU resident and EU law (same as UK law) allows people taking up residence to bring with them personal goods and chattels (which includes private leisure craft) without paying VAT. This is the guidance for the UK but it is cut and paste from the EU law that applied before Brexit so the principles are the same. It is Portuguese customs you need to speak to to determine the actual process locally.

www.gov.uk/guidance/transfer-of-residence-to-great-britain

Suggest you make the connection in Portugal first as it may well be possible to get the process of importing into Portugal clear before you leave. In theory as the boat is currently a "UK" boat it is permitted to cruise in the EU for 18 months under TA BUT you are no longer a UK resident although you may be able to appear so on your entry into EU in France although there is obviously some risk in doing this.

On balance then getting things sorted at the Portuguese end is better.

Thanks. There is a complication in that I own the boat jointly with someone who is resident in the UK, but who is an EU citizen (holds an Irish passport).

Do you think that affords us any flexibility here?

 

[Wansworth]

It's basically the national sport.

 

[westernman]

Thanks. There is a complication in that I own the boat jointly with someone who is resident in the UK, but who is an EU citizen (holds an Irish passport).

Do you think that affords us any flexibility here?

If he stays resident in the UK then you could sell your share to him and use his boat under a "Temporary Admission" in the EU without paying any VAT.

 

[Tranona]

Thanks. There is a complication in that I own the boat jointly with someone who is resident in the UK, but who is an EU citizen (holds an Irish passport).

Do you think that affords us any flexibility here?

Ownership/citizenship is irrelevant. A resident cannot keep a boat in the EU without it being EU VAT paid (or exempt). Your co-owner could keep it in the EU for 18 months at a time under TA if he was shown as the sole owner but that might present problems if you use it. The importance of EU VAT paid status is that you can sell it freely within the EU and the boat can move freely around the EU.

Your boat is worth around £40k in the UK, but i expect the Portuguese will use their own method of valuation based on depreciation from new. It may well come to a value of less than that. The VAT will likely be +/- £8k. There is no reason why you cannot both be owners of an EU VAT paid boat even if one is resident in the EU and there are no restrictions on either of you using it.

As I suggested at the beginning, bite the bullet and visit the customs office close to you that will deal with the import and explain your situation. We here, even though the "rules" are relatively simple can only speculate how they will be interpreted locally. your complicated situation makes the speculation even more speculative!

 

[MountainGoat]

Ownership/citizenship is irrelevant. A resident cannot keep a boat in the EU without it being EU VAT paid (or exempt). Your co-owner could keep it in the EU for 18 months at a time under TA if he was shown as the sole owner but that might present problems if you use it. The importance of EU VAT paid status is that you can sell it freely within the EU and the boat can move freely around the EU.

Your boat is worth around £40k in the UK, but i expect the Portuguese will use their own method of valuation based on depreciation from new. It may well come to a value of less than that. The VAT will likely be +/- £8k. There is no reason why you cannot both be owners of an EU VAT paid boat even if one is resident in the EU and there are no restrictions on either of you using it.

As I suggested at the beginning, bite the bullet and visit the customs office close to you that will deal with the import and explain your situation. We here, even though the "rules" are relatively simple can only speculate how they will be interpreted locally. your complicated situation makes the speculation even more speculative!

Thanks. I’ve got a solicitor I use in Portugal for a lot of stuff (it’s easier than dealing with the bureaucracy by myself), and I might ask her if she can look into it.

 

[sailaboutvic]

Thanks. I’ve got a solicitor I use in Portugal for a lot of stuff (it’s easier than dealing with the bureaucracy by myself), and I might ask her if she can look into it.

Well there your answer , and if she cant she probably know someone who can .
there ways and means around your problem but you seen to want to do the right thing ,
so let someone deal with it , find out what you own and pay up , life will be less stressful .

 

[penfold]

I live in Galicia and they recommended I buy in Spain although Uk boats are much cheaper and more choice.Depending on your budget you may well find a good boat in Portugal

Not buying a boat in Spain has better logistics than not buying a boat in the UK.

Kinda looking forward to sailing it there myself.

Also a lot cheaper to sail it there.

 

[MountainGoat]

So an update on this. I contacted customs in Cherbourg asking how to pay VAT. They replied that I should pay in Portugal. I asked if this meant I could transit France en route to Portugal. They replied that I should pay in Portugal.

Honestly love their work with wine and what they’ve done with cheese as a concept, but that was … less helpful than it should be.

However, I now have an email chain from French customs showing that they have advised me that this is basically not their problem, which feels like a useful thing to have.