Using red diesel in uk waters

[mocruising]

Sorry I know this has been done to death but I do not live in or sail in the UK. The RDF (Red diesel Forum) has so many tangents.

In a nut shell if I know a friendly farmer and fill up my sailing boat every year in UK waters am I committing an offence. What happens if I sail to France with the red in my tank and not in plastic cans, we need this information to settle a heated discussion between friends.

 

[Tranona]

You can't use untaxed red in a pleasure boat. You can use red provided you buy it from a taxed source. You do not necessarily pay the full tax as you can declare some of it for heating. In theory provided you have the receipts you can use red if you are visiting other countries, although some Dutch authorities have tried to make an issue. The RYA has a template letter to carry with you. No red in cans.

 

[vyv_cox]

The biggest problems I have read of are in Belgium, although it's possible that was inland. The authorities there refuse to accept the evidence of a receipt proving the fuel was bought taxed. Red = illegal as far as Belgium is concerned.

What I fail to understand is why we need red at all. Fishermen all over Europe pay no or reduced tax on their fuel, but it has no dye. I remember a notice on the fuel berth pontoon at L'Aberwrach advising fishermen that duty-free gasoline would only be available on Tuesdays. It was exactly the same white stuff that everybody else used.

 

[BoyBlue49]

Red

So far I have only found red diesel in the UK marinas( Ipswich and Hamble ) so far this year.

Your hypothetical farmer friend would be giving you the same product that you would buy at a UK marina, duty free and 5% vat, except the marina has a 60-40% concession for heating, not sure how this duty is passed on to the Exchequer but seems to me to be open to abuse,-------- surely not, not in the UK !


Just carry receipts, smile, keep the boat clean and tidy and NO cans of red when foreign.

 

[Greenheart]

Anybody know the score about diesel used not for propulsion? I understood that if one uses it only for charging batteries, there's a big tax saving.

 

[Tranona]

Anybody know the score about diesel used not for propulsion? I understood that if one uses it only for charging batteries, there's a big tax saving.

All explained on the information section of the RYA website

 

[sailorman]

Anybody know the score about diesel used not for propulsion? I understood that if one uses it only for charging batteries, there's a big tax saving.

if you are "Livaboard" & dont go nowhere you are allowed 100% for heating ect.
its your choice as to the split,BUT you might have to justify your actions to the boys in black one dark night

 

[Gordonmc]

Anybody know the score about diesel used not for propulsion? I understood that if one uses it only for charging batteries, there's a big tax saving.

In theory, yes.
In practice I have found marinas will only go on the 60/40 split as its too much hassle for them to justify anything else to the revenue. Their pre-printed declaration forms which must be signed to get the tax free part are based on 60/40.
I have had the debate!

 

[Greenheart]

I don't mind dealing with a little admin and inconvenience, provided there's a serious saving, and assuming it's unambiguously legal.

What a pity that unleaded, sold for use in a generator, can't similarly be discounted!

 

[macnorton]

I don't mind dealing with a little admin and inconvenience, provided there's a serious saving, and assuming it's unambiguously legal.

What a pity that unleaded, sold for use in a generator, can't similarly be discounted!

Red 2 star used to be available on building sites (some years ago), theorecticaly is it possible to get a rebate (60/40) on petrol used in a boat?

 

[lukewhite]

My local marina was more than happy to alter the usual 60/40 split to fit my usage. It makes no difference to their profits, and you are the one signing to say you are using it in the stated proportions. Saved me £70 a couple of weeks ago!