Spain - Customs - Help!

[ QUOTE ]
Not a long shot at all. CA have produced a very lengthy document on the subject that is available to members. If you live abroad you only pay 50% subs!

[/ QUOTE ]It is entirely anecdotal; there are no references given to the relevant laws or regulations. There are contradictory statements and the report in any case makes a plea for more anecdotal input from members. What is needed is legal input, not more anecdotal evidence. This is a job for a lawyer, but at whose expense?
 
Just a note to say thanks for all the contributions - more also welcomed please . . . We will of course report on what happens, good or bad.
Current strategy is that Ruth (who has a fluent Spanish speaking friend) is going to play the helpless female, husband missing, what shall she do, etc etc to elicit more information, without providing too much, or committing herself.
Interestingly, some at Bajadilla escaped further investigation beyond an initial Customs contact, while others didn't and are very upset and worried about the possible implications. Ruth is trying to find out why the difference.

Gracias a todos
 
I would strongly recommend an early visit to a good, Spanish, but english speaking accountant in the area that you are living/keeping the boat. It will not cost a lot but might save you vast amounts of grief and cash in the near future. While I have no doubt that you comply with every law and regulation as a good citizen, having a house in the area and a boat long term you are in danger of matters developing to include all your tax affairs not just a matter of Spaniish wealth/boat tax. I do not recommend trying to deal with this by "muddling through" or "the helpless female routine". Spanish officialdom is more than a match for such strategies and the last thing that you want is for them to feel inclined to really start focusing all the local agencies on your affairs. Good Luck.
 
Whats 9/11 got to do with yachts

How do you sail a westerly centaur into the 82 floor of a skyscraper.

Is about extortion of money

All of it completely out of compliance with EU policy which the thieving government seem free to ignore

Even the liar Blairs government don't behave like this
 
Well its my presonal theory that in fact it was not those nasty araby people but yachtmen that blew up the t,towers,at the time there where several strange ya hts seen nearby.......!Soon there will be Yachts in all parts,the American wont let a rowing boat within 50 mtres of it warships,they obviously know more than they are prepared to say????
 
I got into similar problems here in France where I am a resident but my boat is UK flagged. I simply did not know the relevant French law and was up front about it and am now complying. The French have paid for a survey - and I now have to pay an annual tax on the boat in the same way a French citizen does.

Probably not wise to play games with officials - customs officers. They are not fools or out to get you. I contacted the RYA and Cruising association who were unable to offer any advice so I have accepted the situation and am obeying French Law.... For you, Spanish Law.

My inclination would be to attend the meeting with all your paperwork including your residency situation as well as periods spent in or out of Spain worked out (but very difficult to verify..... in a no passport situation.....) and be as helpful as possible.

If those officers think you are taking the 'michael' they will throw the book at you - and why not?

Michael
 
For the record we do have a good accountant, and an excellent Gestor. We have spoken to both and as you might imagine, neither is particularly versed in the realities of boats, boat regulations and boat taxes, though I'm sure they could 'look up' the laws. Possibly.

As anyone who has spent any time in Spain will well know, there is a great deal more to life here than what the written law says. There's a great deal in interpretation, implementation, attention, attitude, etc amongst Officials and Officialdom. The police in particular can vary greatly depending on their individual personalities, on how one treats them (showing respect is vital, as has been said, plus patience) and who is doing the treating, when their attitude towards helping a woman can be vastly different (indifferent) to 'not helping' a man. We are not suggesting 'playing games' or 'taking the michael' which would be just plain stupid, but to a certain extent all life is a kind of 'game' and it's important to know what the rules are and just how they are applied in real life. What one says, how one says it, is very important.

We are interested - and very very grateful - to learn from others who may actually have been through the same situation. Thanks.
 
We are residents here in Ibiza, but when you say that people who live in countries who are not residents are using facilities there etc and not paying taxes, it is their money who is keeping the spanish economy going so they are paying their way by buying food, eating at restaurants etc. All the money we earn here is spent here, we havn't got any stashed away in hidden bank accounts. My daughter and I can keep the economy of Ibiza going alone with our spending habits!!!
 
I totally agree with you, if questioned by anyone of authority here in Spain to show them any type of disrespect is a very big mistake. To argue with the Guardia or any other official is signing a warrant for them to 'get you'. Patience and respect is the way forward, although it is very frustrating and you have to go to a quiet place and let rip with all your frustrations, just don't do it to their faces. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Your lucky you only have one daughter!!!!Personally I think is ok to live in a country without all these controls and to travel about freely,but somewhere the traveller must be responsible to some country for the services offered by a civilized communityeitherby paying taxes or buy paying for private services.I chose to stay in Spain for a long period so Spain take care of my medical problems ,my sewage ,fresh water etc etc.Iam a resident with a plastic card saying so.Tourists are Spains biggest earners,but they dont stay around to be a burden,they come with agreements for recipricol medical care and anyway there not here long enough,they just spend foreign currancy ,thats good,but thats being a tourist not a resident!
 
We are residents here in Ibiza with the photo and thumb print to prove it. We pay all our taxes like good citizens, and also spend an awful lot of money in the local shops. I think you must have misunderstood what I was trying to say, or else I'm being a bit thick and not understanding your point. We intend to leave here and move to another country, when we decide where we will make the necessary contributions there.
 
If you are a residentyou are part of that community,pay your way and recieve the benifits.If you are a tourist you pay while you stay then go home.You andI are Residents,but the person who originated this looks like they came by sea as tourists like the place bought a house got the boat in a marina and still think their tourists,you cannot have it both ways,someone has to provide the services.You can flit about and not overstay the alotted time as a cruising yachtsperson as a tourist.In anther post you say you must not show disrespct to authorities,obviously not but you have your right and you should stand by them.Good luck with the voyage,when my youngest daugter grows up abit hopefully we can travel some more!
 
[ QUOTE ]
You can flit about and not overstay the alotted time as a cruising yachtsperson as a tourist...... but you have your right and you should stand by them.

[/ QUOTE ]This is the core of the discussion here; what is the 'alloted time' and what are the 'rights'? Nobody seems to be able to say for sure. The best we have is a lot of anecdotal information about peoples' past experiences. For all we know, laws and regulations were not being enforced, or levies were being made that were not due, or laws have been changed or are about to change. I think that the essence of original questioner was 'what are the rules?'.

I'm sure that most of us are perfectly prepared to accept the rules or just move on, but you can't wander around the world on a very expensive yacht without knowing what the law says, or you are liable to have it taxed, or worse, impounded. My yacht is more valuable than some houses and I take the security very seriously. If it becomes a cause for concern for us to winter in Spain then we will winter elsewhere. Shame, because we like it here and would come back.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Some where it has been mentioned 18O DAYS.Go to the commandancia de Marina and ask them!

[/ QUOTE ]I would not have thought that the harbour master would necessarily be an expert on the importation of boats, taxation and issues of residency.

But yes, 180 days has often been mentioned though around half the time people say that it means 180 contiguous days (i.e. the clock resetting if you leave Spain for even a day) and the other half saying that it means over 180 days in any year. But if it is the latter, does this mean in the last 12 months, the last (or present) calendar year, the last (or present) fiscal year (after all, this is a tax issue), or what? You see, all these seemingly helpful comments tend to be contradictory and/or unclear. It is only when you actually try to USE the helpful information to plan your affairs that you discover you haven't got anything you can base your decisions on.
 
I'd really appreciate that /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Ideally something like an official (e.g. customs, revenue, immigration) Spanish brochure or leaflet - in Spanish would be fine. What is not so useful is a statement (however unequivocal or from a trusted source) without some sort of supporting documentation that can be referred to later when discussing one's affairs with the Spanish authorities.

A question that I would like answered is what happens if one overstays the period - maybe the weather is bad, illness, mechanical problems, or so on. Could one suddenly be liable for tax on the whole value of the boat or be impounded without warning?

Many thanks for your offer of help; it really is appreciated.
 
Stop press: I phoned the Capitania Maritima today and as far as they know you can stay as long as you want in Spain.I asked them to double check this and will phone them tomorrow .I cannot get written back up till I go personally to see them.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top