Spanish charges.taxes etc

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angelsson

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Has anyone got up to date information as to what charges are made for Spanish waters, lots of stories about lighthouse tax etc and for anchoring off, any facts welcome as to the true situation.
 
When we were there there were no taxes but for an up to date comment try the Liveabord forum. The only tax is if you you stay over 6 months in which case you pay an import tax and have to register the boat in Spain. This applies to all European coumtries.
 
Haven't heard of any taxes (as long as you stay less than 183 days), are you confusing it with Portugal?

We had a visit from Customs guys recently, before leaving Baiona for Portugal. First time we've ever been bothered by them. All very polite, quite quick and they didn't bother looking around the boat. Just copied details from our docs. & passports + picture of boat taken from their RIB.

I heard stories about problems anchoring in Canaries last year but no 1st hand information. Heading back up to Rias fairly soon and not expecting any hassle at all.
 
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There are not any specific freestanding taxes to worry about. There are however various local taxes that are collected as part of berthing fees in marinas. You have no option - they are added to the bill.
 
Many thanks for replies, I did mean to Include the Canaries also as i am making my way there from Sardinia prior to a transat in late November.
 
When we were there there were no taxes but for an up to date comment try the Liveabord forum. The only tax is if you you stay over 6 months in which case you pay an import tax and have to register the boat in Spain. This applies to all European coumtries.

There are many foreign vessels in Portugal but I've never heard of one having to be imported.
 
So far, I have not been asked for light dues, but know one who has in Portugal. In the Canaries, I am told they are demanded in Santa Cruz Las Palmas and are sometimes slipped into the marina bill in La Palma Gran Canaria.
I have had a visit from the customs in San Miguel marina Tenerife. They filled out a form of boat and passport details which we both signed. It could be a stake in the ground if they are putting the results into a computer.
 
When we were there there were no taxes but for an up to date comment try the Liveabord forum. The only tax is if you you stay over 6 months in which case you pay an import tax and have to register the boat in Spain. This applies to all European coumtries.

That is a gross oversimplification. You can avoid paying the tax if you declare the boat when you arrive intending to take up residence. The key thing is your personal residential status for tax purposes which becomes an issue if you stay more than 183 days in a period. The boat can stay there forever provided you are not resident. Even if you do become resident and pay the tax (or are exempt ) there is no need to register the boat in Spain (although if the boat is on the SSR you are in theory unable to keep it because you are no longer UK resident). While the 6 month rules for residence apply in other countries, the tax implications are not the same in respect of boats.

Anyway, all this irrelevant for the OP as he is clearly only a visitor.
 
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