Old Boat and VAT

[doug748]

Because every customs area in the world has rules and regulations on what can be imported and sold in that area. Neither the UK or its application of rules to leisure craft are unique in these rules. How many rules do you think there are applying to the sale of cars, or electronic devices, or food, or aviation equipment, or medecines? Answer: a lot. And they help everybody.

Dunno, how many rules have you found?

I have struggled to find any other comparable used products that are asked to retrospectively meet standards which were not even envisaged at the time of manufacture. Any suggestions welcome.

Older boats are not expected to comply with present standards when they are sold within either in the EU, UK or any place that I am aware of on the whole planet. Neither are "cars, or electronic devices......or aviation equipment" . So what is the point of asking for it of boats, on import? What is special about an old Bavaria 32 sold in Kent, that means it is treated differently to one bought 30 miles away? We don't know. Why, is question I am asking, who benefits? It's a genuine question, I have no explanation except maybe the Civil Service have no care, interest or idea about niche areas of the economy.

If you import a car, motorcycle, aeroplane or helicopter they are not expected to meet latest standards because it would be more than silly, it would be impossible. People run whole businesses on the strength of importing old vehicles:

Bikes For Sale Now

Why can I import thirty year old technology from Japan, America, or Timbuktu with no problem, but boats are different? That's the nub of it.

.

 

[Tranona]

The establishment of the UKCA was a direct consequence of Brexit - the intention to create UK standards as opposed to EU. This is "low hanging fruit" in that it is easy to do (the technical standards are the same perhaps because the RCD was largely written in the UK) and has minimal impact on "real" trade. Our regulators love it, but they have discovered that it is not easy to implement - it has been delayed several times because I think they have realised what a stupid idea it is when there is no infrastructure to enforce it. In reality I think like the restriction on imports from the US after 1992 (when VAT was introduced on imports) and 1997 when the RCD came in imports od used boats will effectively stop and it will fizzle out.

VAT as a style of tax has a lot going for it and long predates the Single Market. The problems arise because in 1992 the EU fudged the issue of keeping imports price comparable with domestic production by using VAT as a de facto import duty and uniquely used evidence of payment as a requirement for free circulation of private boats within the EU. The problem of existing boats was dealt with by classifying them as "deemed VAT paid" if in the EU at the time.

By and large the "fudge" worked and essentially the same approach was used by the UK government on Brexit when the separate customs area was created. The impact though is much greater because it effectively creates a closed market for the trade in used boats.

 

[AngusMcDoon]

If you import a car, motorcycle, aeroplane or helicopter they are not expected to meet latest standards...

If you permanently import an aircraft into the UK from outside the EU/UK it has to have a UK CoA tested against today's requirements.

 

[doug748]

If you permanently import an aircraft into the UK from outside the EU/UK it has to have a UK CoA tested against today's requirements.

Indeed, It will not be required to be modified or changed in any way.

 

[zoidberg]

So you sail an EU registered boat to Ireland, then move on to North Ireland.
Then sail to the UK mainland at your leisure.

Sail it down the French side of the Channel/La Manche then head off NW from Roscoff or somewhere, towards Cork.....

....then are forced 'by press of weather' to put into the Isles of Scilly for necessary shelter, and are asked 'Where from and whither bound?' in the time-honoured way.

Get out of that one!