Paying VAT in Carribean as a EU citizen owning a US vessel

I have spoken to the HRMC VAT help line and their advice is that the French customs web site quoted by Guapa is talking about French VAT rules ie not EU ones. Apparently a similar situation arises with the Falklands.
OliveOyl - any chance you could post the link to the EU website that you quote so I can have a printed copy on board when next I visit Martinique!!

I am also going to e-mail the customs in Martinique directly and ask then what their interpretation of this is!!
 
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State registration doesn't make it a US flagged vessel - Coast Guard Documentation does that - registration is only so they can collect the registration and use fee.

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This not what I've been told by the nice lady at Virginia Boat Registration (boat-reg@dgif.virginia.gov)

There seem to be two kinds of registration - federal and state.
They seem to roughly correspond with Part I and Part III over here.
Only US citizens can register federal. This proves title, but is only required if the vessel has a mortgage on it.
 
If you import your boat into the US, (as opposed to enter on a temporary basis as a visitor), or buy a boat there, you must state register the boat in the state where you keep it, under the Federal Boat Safety Act of 1971.
You stick numbers on the boat and a user decal is issued annually or two-yearly depending in the state. This demonstrates that the boat is owned in the USA and pays fees to a particular state - no more, no less.
Coast Guard Documentation is a Federal issue. You get a CG-1270 certificate that is then endorsed with a 'pleasure vessel licence' and this allows the owner to fly the national flag when abroad and also to record bills of sale, mortgages etc. You afix a number permanently to the boats infrastructure. It is highly recommended for US citizens travelling abroad, and unavailable to non-US citizens.
It used to be that Documented boats were exempt from the decal fee but most states have now closed that loophole.
 
luckily, Bejasus is a US documented vessel(wife is owner and a US citizen) and it is registered in Charlston SC, where US documented vessels are exempt from paying state registration. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
We have spent many months at a time in the French portion of St Martin and were told each time to stay as long as we like at no expense for anchoring.
Not the same story anymore on the Dutch side there are fees for almost everything, arrival and departure, anchoring , going through the bridge(from $10 to $500 depending on size)and weekly just staying still fee $12 per week.
As a result of these fees many moor grotyy yotty types now hang out in French water and play on the much cheaper Dutch side, Soggy Dollar in Palapa Marina $1 happy hour beers.
If you are registered on the french side of St Martin you can work as a contractor on the Dutch as you are not an illegal worker, sounds strange but works.
As long as your boat is registered in your name no one seems to mind where it comes from. If you get there and find you have to leave occasionally the next Islands are only 8hr away. Or 8 miles if you go to Anguilla
Good luck.
 
fraid they don't equate to part I and partIII. State registration eg Virginia - is a taxation and security issue and equates nearer to our car registration. You may also find that you will have to pay an annual property tax to the state of VA on their estimate of the value of your boat.

Depending on where you are to be located in virginia it may be more tax efficient for you to register the boat in Maryland, as they they do not charge annual property tax on boats, but will charge you a one off hit of sales tax on their estimate of the boat's value, but that would depend on the precise circumstances of your importation of the boat.
State registration of your boat is not related to which state you live in, but to the state of 'primary use' - eg if you live in Pennsylvannia, but keep your boat in Florida you register it in Florida.
You are also required to paint a 'home port' on the stern of the boat.
State registration does not alter the nationality of the boat -- so you can be registered in Illinois, but also be British Registered and fly the British Maritime Ensign.
When are you due to make the move. I have had the boat out on the VA/MD border of Chesapeake Bay for the last 4+ years. It would be nice to hook up. Can also give you loads of local sailing contacts.
I have found that state officials are often ignorant of federal law, especially in relation to international matters.
 
Hi, what is the situation if you bought the boat in Maryland, but then took 6 months sailing down the east coast before arriving in the caribbean - do you neeed to register it in any state. I am a British citizen and the intention would be eventually to take it back to Europe and pay VAT etc - best wishes
 
no - just small ship register (british registry part III) it. It may be worth researching if Maryland do an exemption from sales tax such as Florida do. I think it could save you about 8% of the purchase price... although this usually has to be done before the purchase is completed...

It all depends on the exact individual circumstances, and what your plans are... Basically, if you are not staying in any individual state for for more than 6 months continuously then it is simplest to british register. You can then apply for a user fee decal online providing you have a US mailing address (most marinas will hold mail for you). Costs about $28 dollars. There is a link from the customs and border protection web page.
If you go outside USA/Canada/Mexico and wish to return to the USA you will then need to get a cruising permit and a visa as you will not be eligible to re enter using the visa waiver programme.
If you want more precise info - then feel free to PM me with the exact circumstance and future plans. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
 
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Registered and fly the British Maritime Ensign.
When are you due to make the move. I have had the boat out on the VA/MD border of Chesapeake Bay for the last 4+ years. It would be nice to hook up. Can also give you loads of local sailing contacts.


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That would be good.

The 'move' - if it happens - will be this time next year.
Will know yes/no by January.
If it's a go, plan to sail the boat over May next year (UK-Azores-Chesapeake)
 
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