VAT status on older EU boats imported post Brexit

[webcraft]

I am posting this to correct misinformation recently posted in another thread.

A vessel has deemed VAT paid status if it was in use in the EU in 1985 and was in the EU on 31 Dec 1992

From the gov.uk website:

"Deemed VAT paid status includes certain vessels that were in use as private pleasure craft prior to 1 January 1985 and were in the UK or EU on 31 December 1992."

So if you buy, for example, a Vega from Sweden and bring it to ghe UK it will be deemed VAT psid.

- W

 

[Tranona]

I am posting this to correct misinformation recently posted in another thread.

A vessel has deemed VAT paid status if it was in use in the EU in 1985 and was in the EU on 31 Dec 1992

From the gov.uk website:

"Deemed VAT paid status includes certain vessels that were in use as private pleasure craft prior to 1 January 1985 and were in the UK or EU on 31 December 1992."

So if you buy, for example, a Vega from Sweden and bring it to ghe UK it will be deemed VAT psid.

- W

No you are misreading (you don't give a link to what you are reading). This applied when we were in the EU. Brexit changed it and the UK became a separate customs area from the EU (and Norway). While it still applies to boats that were in the UK on 31/12/2020 it does not apply to boats imported after that date.

This is so well established, discussed at length on here, given in government advice such as here www.gov.uk/guidance/sailing-a-pleasure-craft-that-is-arriving-in-the-uk#declaring-a-pleasure-craft-that-youre-importing as well as guidance from such organisations as the RYA, BMF and CA

Suggest that if you want to help your friend's daughter, rather than ignoring the truth it might be useful to call the special unit in HMRC shown in the page I linked to.

 

[Mark-1]

What about RCD? ChatGPT tells me you can import a boat for personal use, but you need to meet RCD before selling it on.

Seems insane to me, but that's what ChatGPT reckons.

 

[dunedin]

I am posting this to correct misinformation recently posted in another thread.

A vessel has deemed VAT paid status if it was in use in the EU in 1985 and was in the EU on 31 Dec 1992

From the gov.uk website:

"Deemed VAT paid status includes certain vessels that were in use as private pleasure craft prior to 1 January 1985 and were in the UK or EU on 31 December 1992."

So if you buy, for example, a Vega from Sweden and bring it to ghe UK it will be deemed VAT psid.

- W

I wish that were the case, but following the Bxxxxt your final sentence (bold applied) is no longer true. Sadly the B thing threw a spanner in the works for buying boats in the Eu and bringing to the UK. UK VAT would need to be paid on import to the UK.
See the extensive work done by the RYA and the Cruising Association.

 

[Tranona]

The RCD issue is unclear. Although the law says it applies to all imports whether personal or commercial it uses terms such as placed on the market and put into service. In the past (pre Brexit) when EU rules applied there were exemptions, for example for pre 1997 EEA built boats these are missing from the current rules. It is also unclear how they are being interpreted, perhaps because so few boats (if any) have been imported, but it seems that boats with a post 2017 CE mark do not need further certification as that is the same standard as the current UK one.

Just to reinforce the need for privately imported boats to be certified, this is a link to the govt guidance on the subject www.gov.uk/government/publications/recreational-craft-regulations-2017/recreational-craft-regulations-2017-great-britain#obligations-of-private-importers

 

[webcraft]

What about RCD? ChatGPT tells me you can import a boat for personal use, but you need to meet RCD before selling it on.

Seems insane to me, but that's what ChatGPT reckons.

Tranona says RCD no longer applies. The boat in question was built in Sweden and therefore conforms to RCD.

- W

 

[webcraft]

Its a can of worms, but I have never been asked to prove VAT status on either of my boats, and I would be very interested to hear from anyone who has been, particularly on a boat more than 40 years old and worth less than 10k

Anyone?

Thought not.

If I wanted another Vega, for example, I would have no hesitation in buying one in Sweden, sailing it back and registering it on SSR part 3. There is no way I would inform any official bodies.

Your knickers may be differently twisted.

- W

 

[Tranona]

Tranona says RCD no longer applies. The boat in question was built in Sweden and therefore conforms to RCD.

- W

No I did not. Why do you have to distort everything to try and make it conform to what you want to believe? The RCD applies in the EU. In the UK the same standard is called the RCR and the UK makes the rules for what standards apply and it is very clear that if you import a boat into the UK it has to comply to the RCR and is liable for VAT.

If you choose to ignore this and break the law that is up to you - but you cannot claim ignorance. BTW you will find it more difficult to register on the SSR as it is no longer self declaring and you have to show evidence of your ownership. A receipt from outside the UK would be a bit of a give away.

BTW I appreciate cyberspace has different rules but your friend's daughter does not live there.

 

[webcraft]

No you are misreading (you don't give a link to what you are reading). This applied when we were in the EU. Brexit changed it and the UK became a separate customs area from the EU (and Norway). While it still applies to boats that were in the UK on 31/12/2020 it does not apply to boats imported after that date.

This is so well established, discussed at length on here, given in government advice such as here www.gov.uk/guidance/sailing-a-pleasure-craft-that-is-arriving-in-the-uk#declaring-a-pleasure-craft-that-youre-importing as well as guidance from such organisations as the RYA, BMF and CA

Suggest that if you want to help your friend's daughter, rather than ignoring the truth it might be useful to call the special unit in HMRC shown in the page I linked to.

No I did not. Why do you have to distort everything to try and make it conform to what you want to believe? The RCD applies in the EU. In the UK the same standard is called the RCR and the UK makes the rules for what standards apply and it is very clear that if you import a boat into the UK it has to comply to the RCR and is liable for VAT.

If you choose to ignore this and break the law that is up to you - but you cannot claim ignorance. BTW you will find it more difficult to register on the SSR as it is no longer self declaring and you have to show evidence of your ownership. A receipt from outside the UK would be a bit of a give away.

BTW I appreciate cyberspace has different rules but your friend's daughter does not live there.

Oh dear, you really are becoming tiresome now. Could you remind us what legal qualification you hold?

Evidence of ownership can be an RYA bill of sale. Self generated.

And why are you are mentioning my friend and his daughter when they are nothing to do with this thread? I am pretty sure you are breaking forum T and Cs by doing so. Would you like me to reveal personal information about your friends or their relatives?

- W

 

[webcraft]

There was no response to my previous query.

Has anyone here ever been asked to prove the VAT status of a boat more than 40 years old?

Or have you heard of anyone who has been asked?

— W

 

[Wandering Star]

There was no response to my previous query.

Has anyone here ever been asked to prove the VAT status of a boat more than 40 years old?

Or have you heard of anyone who has been asked?

— W

This doesn’t mean Tranona’s advice is incorrect though does it?

 

[webcraft]

This doesn’t mean Tranona’s advice is incorrect though does it?

I quoted directly from the government website.

I am not interested in Tranona's unwanted 'advice' or in your whataboutery.

Have you ever been asked by any authority to prove the VAT status of your boat?

- W

 

[webcraft]

Thought not

- W

 

[Tranona]

I quoted directly from the government website.

I am not interested in Tranona's unwanted 'advice' or in your whataboutery.

Have you ever been asked by any authority to prove the VAT status of your boat?

- W

It would help if you actually posted a link to your source so that we can see what it actually says.

Why are you asking this question? Is it just curiosity? The fact that most people have never been asked is because most people are not breaking the law. However if you sail a boat from Sweden (or indeed anywhere outside UK territorial waters) this www.gov.uk/guidance/sailing-a-pleasure-craft-that-is-arriving-in-the-uk is what you are required to do. As you will see it is your responsibility to declare the boat and pay VAT if required. It is a criminal offence to avoid this.

Seems the only reason you object to my "unwanted " advice is because it shows very clearly that what you may believe is possible is actually unlawful.

And yes, I have been asked to prove the VAT status of my boat because it had a complicated history. However because I understand the law all the paperwork (including a genuine Bill of Sale, not a forged one) the authorities were satisfied.

Of course if you think the law should not apply to you, carry on with your delusions.

 

[webcraft]

It would help if you actually posted a link to your source so that we can see what it actually says.

Why are you asking this question? Is it just curiosity? The fact that most people have never been asked is because most people are not breaking the law. However if you sail a boat from Sweden (or indeed anywhere outside UK territorial waters) this www.gov.uk/guidance/sailing-a-pleasure-craft-that-is-arriving-in-the-uk is what you are required to do. As you will see it is your responsibility to declare the boat and pay VAT if required. It is a criminal offence to avoid this.

Seems the only reason you object to my "unwanted " advice is because it shows very clearly that what you may believe is possible is actually unlawful.

And yes, I have been asked to prove the VAT status of my boat because it had a complicated history. However because I understand the law all the paperwork (including a genuine Bill of Sale, not a forged one) the authorities were satisfied.

Of course if you think the law should not apply to you, carry on with your delusions.

Yawn


- W