jonic
Well-Known Member
You are correct.
If a boat is exported (sold) outside the EU, then re-imported it loses its VAT paid or deemed VAT paid status and is liable for VAT.
The OP will have no problems.
Last edited:
Realistically, how much trouble will I actually be in?
- Thread starter PhillM
- Start date
You are correct.
If a boat is exported (sold) outside the EU, then re-imported it loses its VAT paid or deemed VAT paid status and is liable for VAT.
The OP will have no problems.
prv
Well-Known Member
Swanrad2
Well-Known Member
Isn't that tax avoidance? I thought we were supposed to find this morally repugnant nowadays..
Even worse - International tax avoidance, there was a meeting about your type yesterday.
Even worse - International tax avoidance, there was a meeting about your type yesterday.
zzyyxx
Well-Known Member
No because he's paid all the tax that's due.
Problem is that some people say the French won't believe him, even though they will of course.
prv
Well-Known Member
Swanrad2
Well-Known Member
There was a case brought by HMRC recently in which a man received a golden hello of circa £250k, on which he paid tax. Leaving his new job after a year he repaid the hello and after tax received a minus figure which HMRC initially refused to refund. HMRC lost, to be fair, with logic winning out but who is to say that they will not pursue Yachtsmen, who cannot prove the VAT status of their boats, with spurious VAT bills? If I was an inspector, both targeted and paid a bonus on tax raised, I'd have a go.....bugger have I just given them an idea? Surely Tax Inspectors don't sail do they?
Sorry, you are right though, irrelevant to Phil - I was just playing keepy-uppy with a tax football.
Sorry, you are right though, irrelevant to Phil - I was just playing keepy-uppy with a tax football.
PhillM
Well-Known Member
Thanks all,
It seems the top tips are:
1) Don’t overdo the refit – keep the boat shabby and nobody will take any notice of me (that is also true of most UK marinas)
2) Be friendly to inspectors – smile and offer tea and coffee (but nothing stronger in case it looks like a bribe)
3) Best to wear ones varnish covered shorts instead of posh clothes – looking poor makes on invisible - and it is a look I do SOoo well
4) Have all other paperwork in order – don’t give them an excuse to dig deper. I guess I will need to throw out the spare cans of diesel or at least ensure they only contain White
5) Don’t buy anything in an antiques shop
It seems the top tips are:
1) Don’t overdo the refit – keep the boat shabby and nobody will take any notice of me (that is also true of most UK marinas)
2) Be friendly to inspectors – smile and offer tea and coffee (but nothing stronger in case it looks like a bribe)
3) Best to wear ones varnish covered shorts instead of posh clothes – looking poor makes on invisible - and it is a look I do SOoo well
4) Have all other paperwork in order – don’t give them an excuse to dig deper. I guess I will need to throw out the spare cans of diesel or at least ensure they only contain White
5) Don’t buy anything in an antiques shop
prv
Well-Known Member
I reckon most of that is taking it too seriously
Having SSR, passports, radio license, etc handy, and being polite to officials (as I would be to anyone), is as far as I'd go.
Odds are it'll be several years before you even see a Douanier anyway.
Pete
PhillM
Well-Known Member
Well yes, agreed, I do have to make it out of the Solent yet, let alone to Poole. In fact this year, I need to start by getting out of the car park
Seajet
...
Phill,
with your boat, - and this is a compliment - one look at google for her class will tell even the thickest plank she is not VAT liable and nor are you - incidentally there's someone selling a Cheverton boat on E-Bay which is most certainly not the Caravelle he says it is, have you seen that ?!
I might be vaguely worried if I had a 1980's boat and no paperwork, or an Island Packet etc of known outside European source, but as others have said the French Customs are either very stealthy or have been in the bar elsewhere whenever I've been across, ditto the British a lot of the time though the new lot of SBS wannabees sound more of a hassle.
I'd concentrate on things like bilge pumps and window boards, and especially an autopilot in case you end up motoring.
with your boat, - and this is a compliment - one look at google for her class will tell even the thickest plank she is not VAT liable and nor are you - incidentally there's someone selling a Cheverton boat on E-Bay which is most certainly not the Caravelle he says it is, have you seen that ?!
I might be vaguely worried if I had a 1980's boat and no paperwork, or an Island Packet etc of known outside European source, but as others have said the French Customs are either very stealthy or have been in the bar elsewhere whenever I've been across, ditto the British a lot of the time though the new lot of SBS wannabees sound more of a hassle.
I'd concentrate on things like bilge pumps and window boards, and especially an autopilot in case you end up motoring.
Tranona
Well-Known Member
Boats from the CIs can freely visit France. The authorities would only be interested if it was permanently berthed there. Then it would be considered imported and subject to VAT.
If a boat was bought in UK as shown by Bill of Sale any tax issues are responsibility of HMRC.
prv
Well-Known Member
Well yes, agreed, I do have to make it out of the Solent yet, let alone to Poole. In fact this year, I need to start by getting out of the car park
That wasn't what I meant. Even when you visit France, the odds of anybody turning up even to casually examine your passports appears to be low.
Pete
Seajet
...
That wasn't what I meant. Even when you visit France, the odds of anybody turning up even to casually examine your passports appears to be low.
Pete
There's no reason for PhillM to rely on ' they might not turn up ', he's fireproof already.
Andy
prv
Well-Known Member
Seajet
...
Sigh. As have I but people keep going on, don't they Pete ?
wotayottie
Well-Known Member
Not in my experience. French marinas are all on line to the police etc and report your arrival as you check in. The customs, if they havent already stopped you on the approach, will usually arrive within an hour or so, and when they do for the first time make sure to ask them for the bit of paper that says you have been checked out, The reason is that the same system alerts the gendarmerie and the local plod so you could get 3 visits as we did. Show them the paper and they will go away.
I have always found them much more polite and friendly than their UK equivalent.
prv
Well-Known Member
And I defer to it, as I've only visited France by yacht twice
. But neither time did I see hide nor hair of a douanier or gendarme, on our boat or any of the dozens of other Brits. Pete
PhillM
Well-Known Member
That wasn't what I meant. Even when you visit France, the odds of anybody turning up even to casually examine your passports appears to be low.
Pete
Sorry Pete, that was my attempt at humor, no offence meant.
Thanks to all for your help. It's going to be too cold for my weekly dose of paint and varnish this weekend, so I will spend some time ensuring all my paperwork is in order.
zzyyxx
Well-Known Member
Is there a special agreement with the CIs then?
As I understand it (Which is of course short for "I have no idea"), if an EU citizen buys a boat outside the EU and sails it into the EU. VAT is due at the first point of arrival.
This is distinct from a non-EU citizen doing it, as they're furriners.
Tranona
Well-Known Member
Yes, you are correct if the owner is EU resident. CI boats get temporary importation. Problem there is that some CI residents would prefer to keep the boat in France so may be subject to checks.
