Tax ‘free’ goods for a yacht in transit

[mike_bryon]

My first attempt at importing goods for a yacht in transit resulted in a delay in customs, extra paperwork and me paying the full amount of tax!

Does anyone know how it is done successfully?

 

[Dipper]

I used to have a small internet mail order business and occasionally sent goods to yachts in transit. I never had any feed back from the customers so I assume all went well.

Having the correct paperwork (in triplicate if I remember correctly) and clearly labeling the package "Goods for Yacht in Transit" may have helped the proceedings go smoothly. It may also depend on the country where the yacht was waiting. Some of the smaller countries/islands on the cruising 'routes' may be more used to the system than others.

Before confirming the sale, I did make it clear that it was the purchaser's responsibility to ensure that such goods would be allowed in tax free.

 

[Channel Ribs]

Likewise I have sent a fair few bits to YITs.

As the Dipper says, clearly marked and with invoices in triplicate. But the tax risk still lies with the receiver.

 

[Dipper]

I no longer have my reference booklet which gave specific country information but this was my 'bible' when it came to exports.

As regards paperwork, the triplicate invoices (I'm sure I had to have 5 sheets occasionally) had to be accessible from outside the package as various authorities on route seemed to need to take their own copies. I always put the same number inside as well just to be sure!

The invoices also needed to be in a particular format and the information required was quite specific.

Of course, this is all out of your control but it is possible that the exporter did not follow the rules to the letter or maybe you were just unlucky.

 

[mike_bryon]

Thanks guys. Before the goods were released I had to provide customs with copies of my passport and the ships papers and a signed declaration that the goods were for a yacht in transit. The goods were clearly marked. And then they taxed it at the usual rate…

Has anyone positive experience at the receiving end?

 

[charles_reed]

Having learnt the hard way, in Croatia, it's advisable to use a good "spedition" ie a freight forwarder.

Otherwise you have to travel to their customs' HQ, produce ship's papers in person and pay an "administration fee" and wade through 11 pages of foolscap in a foreign language.
It was considerably cheaper than buying locally, but the time taken was inordinately long, 2 days from Sweden, 8 days for the douanes to demand my presence and 2 300km round trips (because they stopped work at 12:30 every day).

You can only claim yacht-in-transit in non-EU countries of course.

 

[pmyatt]

If you are in the EU and you hold a British passport or are on a British registered vessel you are not entitled to any duty-free considerations - yacht in transit no longer applies as VAT has to be paid in either the originating country or the receiving one.

 

[charles_reed]

Yes,

Triplicate invoice copies, but photocopies served, but ship's papers, passport and affidavit were all required.

 

[charles_reed]

Only true

if the transit country is within the EU.

So Croatia is OK, Tunisia is OK -

it can be argued that a UK registered vessel, being supplied with goods by an EU-registered supplier should levy VAT, this is very much up to the Customs authorities and your supplier in the country of origin.

 

[Gerry]

Only place we ever got this to work for us was in Trinidad. Everywhere else we got stung either by Customs or the delivery service. I will NEVER use DHL again, their quoted prices and services have been incorrect everytime.

www.gerryantics.blogspot.com

 

[ToMo]

I think you got Italy'd - 2 winters ago I was in Vibo Marina (the dreaded Calabria) and was able to recieve a 'yacht-in-transit delivery ex UK, Dutch boat ordered exactly the same item from same supplier ex UK and got clobbered by Italian Customs it would seem that the whole thing is a lottery! /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[Nich39Nige]

Gerry,

I've used DHL without any problems but when using FedEx I was clobbered for full import duty (DHL from the UK FedEx from the states). As ToMo said it's a lottery.
Quoted prices and delivery from DHL were spot on in all cases whereas FedEx lost the shipment (went to Peurto Rico and I was in Bonaire) and I had to pay duty when it finally arrived a month later!

Nige

 

[JoeQ]

Noonsite is your friend. It has loads of info under countries and customs restrictions and reference to goods in transit. The last link I provided was re Canary Islands but you get the picture.

/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Bilgediver]

Are you using the correct terminology.....??????

There is an international customs catagory "Ships Spares in Transit " and I have often been waved through customs halls when carrying a box so marked with accompanying declaration.

Also making the declaration to DHL works but they need to be told .

 

[charles_reed]

ToMo

VAT has to be paid, either in the EU country of origin, or in the EU country of delivery.

Within the European Union, there is no such thing as Tax-Free Goods in Transit for an EU citizen.

You have to be outside the EU to benefit.

 

[AndrewB]

[ QUOTE ]
Only place we ever got this to work for us was in Trinidad. Everywhere else we got stung either by Customs or the delivery service. I will NEVER use DHL again, their quoted prices and services have been incorrect everytime.

[/ QUOTE ]My experience too. It works slickly in Trinidad. We have pulled it off in other countries (Canaries, USA) but its arguable whether the hassle and extra costs (special trip to plead with carrier and customs, pay notary for sworn statement etc.) was worth the saving.

Likewise DHL.

 

[whipper_snapper]

I have tried this in Mayotte and Kenya. In both of these places, and many similar I assume, you absolutely MUST get up-to-date local advice before asking a supplier to ship to a YIT. The system for importing varies wildly and is subject to apparently random restrictions. In Kenya for instance there are only some combinations of couriers and points of entry where the paperwork can happen. This is nothing to do with 'the law' but to do with the registration of couriers, availability of the right bloke with the right stamp etc etc. Often one courier in UK is represented by a different (and I thought rival, but apparently not) courier in the destination country. Don't expect the UK supplier or even courier to have any idea about this.

 

[rogerthebodger]

One important thing is to have the waybill made out to Yacht "XYZ" at port "ABC" in transit and to have the agent make out the customs docs to also reflect this info.