Red diesel question

[Tanqueray]

Sorry folks but I'm well out of date on this subject.

We bought a boat last year which had been in indoor storage for about 5 years.

It has a full tank of red diesel which, at current usage will last us several seasons (We mainly sail).

Question; How do we stand in Europe - as far as we can see the fuel was fully tax paid at the time of purchase?

Thanks,

Steve.

(also posted in Scuttlebutt)

 

[jfm]

In law you're ok becuase as you say it was tax paid when bought. On this score the 5 years is irrelevant: if you buy red today it is also tax paid when bought

In theory then you are fine in europe. However you sometime hear of tales of Belgian/Dutch officials questioning all this at local level. France is generally ok

There is a letter you can download somewhere in which each country is ordered by EC Commission to respect the fact the fuel is tax paid where bought, and leave you alone. Lots of folks recommened you carry this letter. i have the letter can email it if needed. The idea of this letter is that you wave it at the foreign officials if they are troublesome, not that it will absolutely prevent them being difficult

I think the chances of trouble are small and I'd just go ahead and set sail if were you

 

[vas]

I'd agree with jfm and furthermore be warned that red diesel in Greece has LOWER tax in it (as in subsidising CH) hence officials will assume you evade paying proper taxes.
Now, being a foreigner I doubt they'll make a big fuss about it especially on a sailboat, but better be safe than sorry, keep nice official documents with you if you plan to visit Greece.

On a lighter note, if you want your docs to be considered as official and serious, they HAVE to be stamped (the more stamps the better) round stamps are the best. Unfortunately I'm dead serious on that.

cheers

V.