Proof of VAT

[BarryH]

I,ve taken the boat abraod a couple of times, once towing and a couple of times under its own steam. The Irish were so laid back that they were almost horizontal. When we took it to france, we muddled bluffed our way round the French officials.

Now the boat was not new when I bought it, preowned the dealer called it, and the only piece of paper that I recieved was a scribbled reciept from the guy when he delivered it. The makers have no records of the boat at all. Where do you think a good starting point would be to get some sort of official piece of paper to prove it was built in the UK and VAT has been paid on it when new. I've been talking to the local VAT office and they were next to useless.

We want to take the thing to france again before the end of the season and really need to satisfy the over zealous french officials. Anyone got any ideas?

OK, to hell with it. Unbolt it and we'll use it as an anchor!

 

[ari]

Surely you got proper title documentation when you bought it? What are you going to do when you sell it?

Can you not ask your supplying dealer for the invoice showing the VAT paid, or at least a certified copy?

I believe you should also have had a builders certificate and a bill of sale.

What sort of boat is it?

Ari.

 

[BarryH]

Erm....well no, none of that. The dealer reminds me of a dodgy second hand car salesmen. I won't name names as he is still in business, how I don't know, importing a certain range of boats. All that I got was a hand written reciept, no makers cert, no invoice showing a VAT number just a bit of his headed paper. Oh and I paid cash.

OK, to hell with it. Unbolt it and we'll use it as an anchor!

 

[ChrisP]

Barry
get as much paperwork as is humanly possible to carry. If the dealer won't give a propper sale document get trading standards involved and name names. We were on our way to the CI's witg 2 others when one of the boats was stopped by heavily armed French customs on suspicion of the boat being stolen. The previous owner had reported his current boat stolen and had used our friends boat details on the report. Attempted insurance fraud? you decide. Anyway we had 2 hours milling around 20 miles offshore, were escorted to St Peter Port by the customs cutter and another couple of hours with customs, Police and the insurance company rep.
Even after showing all the documentation including bills of sale etc. the checks still included engine numbers and as much proof of ownership as we could find including calls to the builders and the dealer who sold it.

Moral of the story.
Don't rely on the registry and your passport. take as much proof as you can. They carry guns overthere, big ones.

Chris ;o)

What do you mean the sea gull in front's walking !!!

 

[ChrisP]

You could be in deep doo doo mate.

What do you mean the sea gull in front's walking !!!

 

[BarryH]

Re: VAT Update

Just spent an hour on the phone to Seacontainers house. If I'd thought about it I could have got Kim to nip out of the office for me, anyhow, they say "that if the boat was built before 85 and in an EU country on 31.12.92, then Vat would have been deemed paid". Well bugger the boats 3 years too young.

Then on delving through the volumes of rules and regs they come up with, " if you have the original bill of sale fine" or "if you purchesed it secondhand and have a bill of sale from the vendor(bloody stupid word for seller, what did it come out of a coke machine!) or recipt from the person or company that sold you the boat. It will be deemed that VAT has been paid".

Ok so I have the scribbled recipt from the selling dealer on his headed paper with address and phone number. So it would seem that if you've got a secondhand boat and you purchased it a while ago and you lost your bill of sale. Then just write yourself another one!!!!! I was assured by the gods on the southbank that what I have should be fine. I did point out that "it is the french were dealing with here". She said " well what do you expect", tongue in cheek I hope. So to all those people that religiuosly keep all them bits of paper dry and safe........Your wasting your time as far as our customs go. Proof of the pudding is when we get to france. I'll be mounting my one boat invasion in a couple of weeks, so if the posts stop abruptly, you'll know that what the "officials" told me was completely wrong and I had my boat impounded waiting for a hefty levvy to be paid.

OK, to hell with it. Unbolt it and we'll use it as an anchor!

 

[ari]

Re: VAT Update

Barry, did you get my PM?

Ari.

 

[Guest]

Re: VAT Update

Barry
I'm in a similar situation except that my boat is pre 1985. What did they say was satifactory proof of the age of the boat. Mine (Birchwood 33 Classic) wasnt built after 1981 but try expalining that to a french customs man.

johnS

 

[Guest]

Which boat was this then? the Humber 40, I know its name but wont print it, thats not fair if it is, I know a bit of background on it if you need it.

paul js.

 

[BarryH]

Re: VAT Update

Well, they said if it was built pre '85 and was in an EU country on the 31.12.90. Then it was deemed to be VAT paid. But and a big BUT. If you have a reciept for the purchase of the boat, be it the priginal bill of sale or the bit of paper when you bought it secondhand, then that will also do i.e, its deemed to be VAT paid.

Now thats what the powers that be told me when I phoned them, Dont phone 'em on a mobile I was on it for over an hour. How the french interpret the rules is anybodies guess. From other posts about the french customs, they seem to be more interested in SSR papers and your passport. I'm gonna do one more trip from poole this season if poss. If the customs people have got it wrong, then they can bloody well come over and sort it for me.

OK, to hell with it. Unbolt it and we'll use it as an anchor!