VAT yet again

[bobgosling]

Sorry, I did a search but it still didn't give me a useful answer.

I am considering buying ( OK, offer has been accepted ) a vessel built in 1979 for which there is little in the way of documentation. By "little" I mean basically just the previous owner's bill of sale.

The current owner claims to have sailed to France several times with no problems from officialdom. ( What? Despite no SSR or Part-1 ? )

Just how important is it to obtain proof of residency in EU water @ 31-12-1992 ?

Is this something I can reasonably expect the broker to sort out ?

Is it grounds for refusing to complete the purchase ?
( I had foolishly assumed that buying through a broker would not lead to this kind of problem ).

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

The previous bill of sale, plus yours, will make the VAT status a matter for UK HMCG only... so these two docs will prevent French etc officials from being able to do anything nasty to you.....

You can part 3 register it yourself (SSR) so no need to worry about that bit....

Providing the price is good, you shouldn't have a problem other than the same hoops to jump through when it comes to selling it on.....

The broker almost certainly wont sort this out in my experience, either because if the proof doesn't exist, they cant, or more likely, because they can't be bothered.....

 

[pappaecho]

I have aletter from Dover VAT unit with regard to the matter, which may help if thrust under the eyes of a French customs official. Drop me your email address and I will send you a copy
I really dont understand what all the fuss is about since 1973 when we joined the EEC, all goods and services were paid vat inclusive, unless exported outside the EU. Would a French customs official swoop on a 1978 built car and demand to see is VAT was paid - I think not

 

[Norman_E]

Not too sure of this, but there may be a problem if the boat was not built in the EU?

 

[rwakeham]

I have really researched this - my Fisher 30 from 1982 did not come with the original invoice - I am 3rd in the chain of ownership. The RYA website has chapter and verse on it, and indeed will point you to the relevant articles on customs & excise web site. They are easy to follow. A phone call to the VAT office (again number on web site) put my mind at ease. You can print the official articles from the web site and take them with you.

They used to issue letters from Dover, but now this is as good as it gets. Just keep the bill of sale (original not copy), plus any receipts you have got.

If you think about it there are loads of people who can not meet the exact requirements - but make sure you can get the UK VAT offic juristriction proof.