VAT not paid

[Tom41]

ok i undertand, thanks. last question. the person who sells and signs this bill to me, i assume must be the same person who bought previously and owner of these bills like mooring etc. so to avoid its a relative or similar. thanks

 

[Tranona]

Yes, has to be the individual who has title - unless another person has something like power of attorney - very unlikely. However I am actually involved in just such a situation at the moment where the owner is in a care home with dementia and his daughter has power of attorney granted by the court of protection.

Vast majority of boat buying transactions are straightforward, you just have to follow the basic rules.

 

[Tom41]

understood, many thanks

 

[pandos]

Yes, but all that is rather irrelevant as a 1980 boat is "deemed VAT paid" under the 1992 transition rules if it was in the UK on 31/12/1992, so no further evidence required. All this is ancient history and Brexit has no effect on it other than the boat no longer enjoys free circulation in the EU. did the actual advertised price say VAT unpaid, implying that VAT was payable in addition or was there a note in the particulars saying no evidence available which many brokers add (completely unnecessarily) to cover their backs. The MCA BoS is also irrelevant as is registration of your title on Part 1 as that just shows transfer of title and nothing to do with VAT.

Not always the case
If it was subsequently removed from the EU. After 3 ? Years it becomes not vat paid and it is vatable again on re-entry to the EU. There is an extension if the original exporter reimported it.

Not sure how this would interact with Brexit but it can be dangerous territory for the unwary...(I encountered this buying my own boat)

Applyingbth

 

[Tranona]

That is strictly correct but as the transactions discussed here are current with old boats in the UK they would have been in the UK on 31/12/2020 so would be seen as UK VAT paid. There is of course a remote possibility that they might have left the EU?UK some time in the past and changed hands before returning. However from the thrust of the questions there is a lack of documentary history so how would anyone know - or be bothered! It is complicated enough for a first time buyer without going into all the unlikely scenarios. BTW the 3 years only applies IF the boat is returned in the ownership of the person who took it out. If the boat changes hands it automatically looses the opportunity to use Returned Goods Relief.
Brexit has special arrangements for the UK in that the 3 years is waived until the end of 2021 and then it reverts to the normal rules.