Importing boat from Scandinavia

[A_8]

As I said maybe its just a tall story but I just googled "ex vat export" and found this page http://europa.eu/youreurope/business/vat-customs/buy-sell/index_en.htm
and in the top it says: "If you are an EU-based company, VAT is chargeable on most of your sales and purchases except exports to countries outside the EU."
I am sure that there is more to it but it seems possible for a EU based company to sell ex vat to a buyer outside of EU.

 

[Whitelighter]

How is that even possible?

When you buy something in Sweden you pay 25% VAT regardless if you are a company or a private person, foreigner or local. If buing as a company either using the boat as an operative asset, selling the boat on or exporting it outside EU then you can have the VAT refunded. If you keep the boat in Sweden as a private individual then I can't see how you can redeem VAT. Is there a specific trick to accomplish this?

That's not entirely true.

I bought two new boats in Sweden, both ex-VAT

 

[Dunni]

How does this apply now we're post Brexit? Ive seen some lovelies in Sweden I want to sail home to the UK :/

 

[ChromeDome]

This is a very old thread, dead for almost 8 years. Suggest you do a search as the subject has been discussed a lot already.

If no luck by search, start a new thread in a relevant forum.

 

[Tranona]

How does this apply now we're post Brexit? Ive seen some lovelies in Sweden I want to sail home to the UK :/

Very simple. Sweden is in the EU and if you import a boat from there into the UK you will have to pay VAT on arrival and have it re-certified. Whether it is viable will depend on the individual boat.

 

[ChromeDome]

It is actually the same for other EU countries, Denmark also being Scandinavia. Nearby, and EU but not Scandinavia, is Finland with many great boats

A bit different with Norway as they, like the UK, are not an EU member (never were) and any purchase from there is to be seen as an import.

 

[Tranona]

It is actually the same for other EU countries, Denmark also being Scandinavia. Nearby, and EU but not Scandinavia, is Finland with many great boats

A bit different with Norway as they, like the UK, are not an EU member (never were) and any purchase from there is to be seen as an import.

That is confusing. for a UK buyer boats from all ob those countries will be treated as imports, as well UK boats going the other way.

 

[ChromeDome]

That is confusing. for a UK buyer boats from all ob those countries will be treated as imports, as well UK boats going the other way.

Going the other way will be Exports , seen as imports wherever they arrive.
Countries that never were EU haven't changed but since Brexit and VAT status for boats in EU there at given dates, things need to be checked.

 

[Tranona]

Going the other way will be Exports , seen as imports wherever they arrive.
Countries that never were EU haven't changed but since Brexit and VAT status for boats in EU there at given dates, things need to be checked.

Thought that it was pretty clear what I meant. The UK and EU are now 2 different customs areas (and Norway is different from both). The withdrawal agreement sets the date which determines whether a boat is considered EU or UK VAT paid. The poster as he is asking about buying a boat in Sweden and as soon as he buys it for use in the UK it will be classified as an import on entry.

 

[Rickard]

One issue with boats in Sweden is that a lot of them don´t have proof of VAT. Won´t be an issue if importing to UK but if for counties with in EU it can become a problem