VAT a thorn in buying

No The CIS have never been in either the EU or UK VAT area. One of the attractions of buying a boat there. Always been subject to VAT if brought to the mainland by a UK (in the past EU) resident. Same if imported into the current EU.

Plenty of CI residents make use of the temporary admission rules to keep their boats in France. Do not be deceived though by boats registered in the CIs as it does not have anything to do with its VAT status or residence/citizenship of owners.
 
lustyd said:
It's worth noting that these rules are set up on purpose so that you should pay tax where you're resident and therefore pay your share in society while also giving freedom to travel. If you are resident (aka live somewhere) then buy in that location or be prepared to pay tax when you bring the boat "home".

None of us like paying tax, but the system is at least relatively sensible and fair.
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Not true. A UK resident (or non EU resident) can buy a boat in the UK (or anywhere) and pay no VAT, export it and sail it in the EU under TI.
 
Not sure what your point is, it's certainly not addressing what I said. If a Brit buys a boat for export then no, they don't pay tax because the goods aren't in the UK. If they bring it home they do pay tax because they are resident, as I said. It's how the system was designed to work. Charging tax on things that aren't in the country would be a very weird system indeed.
 
goeasy123 said:
Not true. A UK resident (or non EU resident) can buy a boat in the UK (or anywhere) and pay no VAT, export it and sail it in the EU under TI.
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I just had this conversation at the boat show - so would the dealerships allow someone to buy a boat tax free, without giving proof that they intended to pay tax on it in their country of residence?
 
They don't have to pay tax in their country of residence unless they take the boat to their country of residence. (country here might mean whole of EU). There's a well understood procedure to purchase for export, allowing you to buy in the UK as a UK resident but then "immediately" export without paying tax. This can be useful if setting off around the world, or even if basing the boat in the EU and wanting to avoid VAT in the EU.
 
Major Tom said:
I just had this conversation at the boat show - so would the dealerships allow someone to buy a boat tax free, without giving proof that they intended to pay tax on it in their country of residence?
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I would imagine you'd have to show some kind of proof that you're exporting it. Otherwise it would just be a bit too easy to fib, wouldn't it?
 
As many boats are built in EU you can just buy your Hanse/dehler/moody in Germany and keep it in your Say French marina of choice vat free it’s just a question I guess of finding a French marina near an airport or ferry port with a good cruising area but I’m sure many forumites would be able to help you there. St cast looks a likely spot for example but I’m sure others know better locations.
 
ashtead said:
As many boats are built in EU you can just buy your Hanse/dehler/moody in Germany and keep it in your Say French marina of choice vat free it’s just a question I guess of finding a French marina near an airport or ferry port with a good cruising area but I’m sure many forumites would be able to help you there. St cast looks a likely spot for example but I’m sure others know better locations.
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What makes you think that will work? Delivery of a boat from one EU country to another will attract VAT on the sale, regardless of the owner's status/residence unless the boat is being exported from the EU.
 
No, a UK resident owes VAT when they buy things in the EU. They just don't have to immediately pay VAT if they import something into the EU that they already own. As such you'd need to take delivery somewhere else and then import it (temporarily) to the EU.
 
Graham376 said:
Everything purchased in the EU is subject to VAT unless exported. If the boat is kept there it attracts VAT and then if taken to UK at a later date, VAT is due there as well.
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If you want to do this trick you don't buy it in the EU, you buy it in the UK VAT free from the UK agent, then immediately export it from the UK to the EU. This works if you are a UK resident & want to keep the boat in the EU subject to the temporary admission rules. It is an option available on the new boat I am buying.
 
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AngusMcDoon said:
If you want to do this trick you don't buy it in the EU, you buy it in the UK VAT free from the UK agent, then immediately export it from the UK to the EU. This works if you are a UK resident & want to keep the boat in the EU subject to the temporary admission rules. It is an option available on the new boat I am buying.
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Exactly. Swiss and Americans, Antipodeans etc have been doing it for years. You just apply for Temporary Admission in the state where you are going to base the boat, ensuring that you leave the EU every 18 months. The sailaway scheme is aimed at people who want to buy a boat and prepare for a cruise before leaving. It is only suitable for residents who cannot use TA. There is nothing to stop you buying a Hanse, have it delivered to the UK and use the sailaway scheme to, for example prepare the boat for the ARC.. Cruise for a couple of years, sail back to UK and pay VAT on the depreciated value. That could save you £15-20k on a £200k boat - not that you can get much for £200k now, but that is for another thread!
 
What a red tape horrorshow this has become. Trying to understand what any of it means for me as an EU citizen resident in the UK, living aboard a dutch built EU registered boat that I purchased in the UK in 2016, registered in my native EU country before 1/1/2021, and which was moored in the UK on 1/1/2021. When I've finally had enough of the sunlit uplands, will I be allowed to take the boat with me to the EU without having to pay VAT?
 
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