woodslennon
New Member
We have an 18 year old boat which we are trying to sell. Althrough we have evidence of when it entered the country we have no evidence of VAT payment. Does this make any diffrence to the sale.
VAT
- Thread starter woodslennon
- Start date
EME
Well-Known Member
Hi and welcome to the Forums
VAT should have been paid on the boat at some stage and you should have proof. Your reference to 'when the boat entered the country' suggests that it may have been used elsewhere first. When VAT is deemed payable depends upon where it was used prior to that - if you have import docs then you should be able to trace.
A difference on sale ? A stupid statement of mine but depends upon the buyer !
VAT should have been paid on the boat at some stage and you should have proof. Your reference to 'when the boat entered the country' suggests that it may have been used elsewhere first. When VAT is deemed payable depends upon where it was used prior to that - if you have import docs then you should be able to trace.
A difference on sale ? A stupid statement of mine but depends upon the buyer !
Major Catastrophe
Well-Known Member
I think I just broke it.
boatone
Well-Known Member
Just down for maintenance from the look of it. I'm sure it will be back.
Doubt if even you could break Customs and Excise ! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Doubt if even you could break Customs and Excise ! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Major Catastrophe
Well-Known Member
Yeah, but you posted at 16.04 and I broke it by 16.07.
Hang on, I think there's someone at the door..........
Hang on, I think there's someone at the door..........
JonJon
Well-Known Member
The endless inane bureacracy of it all- meanwhile the world strangles itself with CO2 /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif and we all contract bird flu - meanwhile the customs site is up and running. Must be using the same software as the RYA.
totopalm
Well-Known Member
The VAT people say: Certain vessels that were in use as
private pleasure craft prior to the 1 Jan 1985, and were
in the EU on the 31 Dec 1992, MAY be deemed VAT paid
under the single market transitional arrangements.
As Austria, Finland and Sweden joined the EU later, the relevant dates for those vessels in these countries are
"in use" before 1 Jan 1987, and moored in EU on
31 Dec 1994.
It would certainly prove to be a problem to a potential
buyer, if he was suddenly presented with a large VAT
bill
private pleasure craft prior to the 1 Jan 1985, and were
in the EU on the 31 Dec 1992, MAY be deemed VAT paid
under the single market transitional arrangements.
As Austria, Finland and Sweden joined the EU later, the relevant dates for those vessels in these countries are
"in use" before 1 Jan 1987, and moored in EU on
31 Dec 1994.
It would certainly prove to be a problem to a potential
buyer, if he was suddenly presented with a large VAT
bill
JonJon
Well-Known Member
For a government department that is responsible for the collection of VAT - why is it they have no record of what they have collected on and what not - personally I think they are a shambles
Will33
Well-Known Member
Whilst i agree they are not the most leading edge organisation you need to remember that VAT returns do not detail individual transactions so the likes of Peters etc will only provide one figure for the amount of VAT they have collected from customers right across the UK each quarter and would not provide individual invoices or details to HMRC or HMCE as was.
JonJon
Well-Known Member
Why is it that boats are the only item subject to this confusion. I am not in perpetual threat of trying to prove VAT payment on any of my other goods it is pathetic and an intolerable strain on UK and EU boat ownership - especially where because of multiple changes of ownership proof is not easily obtainable. I thought the RYA were addressing this issue. It would have been a simple matter of registration for customs eg with the SSR - basically they are not interested - preferring to wallow in the confusion and point the finger if deemed necessary. We are not a third world country - lets have this clear cut.
totopalm
Well-Known Member
Do you know where and when the boat was built,
any Bills of Sale, when was it first commissioned
any Bills of Sale, when was it first commissioned
Will33
Well-Known Member
Totally agree at the abusrdity of it all and there are lots of accountants that charge wopping premiums by specialising in Marine Taxation!
I know a few people that have gone back to manufacturers and asked for copies of original sales receipts. Fairline Head Office were able to provide copy receipts for boats purchased in the late 1980's.
Woodslennon - May be worth a try?
Will
I know a few people that have gone back to manufacturers and asked for copies of original sales receipts. Fairline Head Office were able to provide copy receipts for boats purchased in the late 1980's.
Woodslennon - May be worth a try?
Will
ari
Well-Known Member
Absolutely right.
And here's a thought. If you buy a boat for £100K and pay £17.5K VAT, and a year later the dealer has gone (gone bankrupt say), what happens if you had a fire or a burglary and the original VAT invoice went up in smoke or disappeared with a safe box say?
Do you then have to toddle down to customs and pay another £17,500 so your boat can be deemed VAT paid? No other way of proving it after all.
Even more absurd, even if you did, the VAT office won't take it apparently cos there is no reason to pay it. Try telling that one to a bolshie French customs officer who's impounded you boat!
Try also claiming on your house insurance for £17,500 cos that effectively is what your original invoice was worth.
The whole thing is utter farce. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif
And here's a thought. If you buy a boat for £100K and pay £17.5K VAT, and a year later the dealer has gone (gone bankrupt say), what happens if you had a fire or a burglary and the original VAT invoice went up in smoke or disappeared with a safe box say?
Do you then have to toddle down to customs and pay another £17,500 so your boat can be deemed VAT paid? No other way of proving it after all.
Even more absurd, even if you did, the VAT office won't take it apparently cos there is no reason to pay it. Try telling that one to a bolshie French customs officer who's impounded you boat!
Try also claiming on your house insurance for £17,500 cos that effectively is what your original invoice was worth.
The whole thing is utter farce. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif
