When importing- Which EU country charges the least VAT

[LittleMike]

I am thinking of importing a boat from the US, can any one please inform me, which Eu country charge the lowest rate of VAT. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[Swampyhotdog]

I looked into it a year ago, and at the time Madeira was the cheapest at 14%.

Cheers,
Stu

 

[scarlett]

I have heard that the Azores is lowest but have no experience there. Malta offered 13% Rhodes 15 % and Greece 19%.

BUT if the value of your boat can be 'reduced' then the percentage is academic.

Greece authorities value the boat using a table which is solely based on length and age. I have not seen the table. If you own an HR you pay the same as an equal age and length Bav!

pm me if you have any questions.

 

[LittleMike]

Many thanks to you both, at the Maltese rate I could save myself approx £6750 on a £150,000 boat not to be sneezed at. That amount would pay for a few extras.

Kind regards

 

[Koeketiene]

[ QUOTE ]
Rhodes 15 % and Greece 19%.


[/ QUOTE ]

Why would there be a different rate for Rhodes & Greece?
Isn't Rhodes part of Greece?

Just wondering.

 

[HenryB]

Are you aware of the RCD issues which might apply?

 

[scarlett]

I was surprised too but they told me that when Rhodes came under Greek rule they did so on condition that they retained the right to control some or all of their finances.

 

[Melody]

Sometimes the islands are allowed to charge lower rates of VAT than the mainland areas to help the economy. Can be useful to know if you have to buy something expensive from a Greek chandler and you're not VAT registered. Syros is also lower than Athens I think.

 

[demonboy]

I too have been wondering about this and have asked many sources. It seems that everyone "thinks" it's this country, or "have heard" it's that country. But is there a source that can categorically state exactly what the rate is for each country? Even UK Customs and Excise could not give me an answer since "we only deal with VAT issues in this country".

Swampy, where did you find out about Madeira being 14%? Scarlett, your location is Greece, can you get hold of one of these tables you refer to and how do you go about devaluing the assumed cost of the boat? What happens if I go over to Greece thinking my boat is worth £40k, only for them to tell me it's actually worth £120k and impound my boat until I pay the full whack???

 

[demonboy]

Best source of info I've found since posting that last comment:

Noonsite Section on VAT

There are various links on there but even the writers suggest that this area is so ambiguous it's difficult to write a simple, straightforward article on it.

 

[LittleMike]

If Customs and Excise seem to be ambiguous to say the least when you try getting any answers out of them directly, you should try their InterWeb site. It's totally unfathomable. and whats more they spent our money on it.

 

[Koeketiene]

That's mainly because the VAT legislation is in itself very ambiguous.
Thais is not always to our disadvantage - legal loopholes are plenty.
/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Swampyhotdog]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Value_added_tax

Try the above link -

I can't remember where I got the figure from originally, but google will find whatever you need, just keep looking.

EU countries

Austria 20%
Belgium 21%
Cyprus 15%
Czech Republic 19%
Denmark 25%
Estonia 18%
Finland 22%
France 19.6%
Germany 16%
Greece 19% 8% (reduced by 30% to 13%, 6% and 3% on islands)
Hungary 25%
Ireland 21%
Italy 20%
Latvia 18%
Lithuania 18% 9%
Luxembourg 15%
Malta 18%
Netherlands 19%
Portugal 21%
Poland 22%
Slovakia 19%
Slovenia 20%
Spain 16% 7%
Sweden 25%
United Kingdom 17.5%

 

[LittleMike]

Hmm, thinks I might fix on some cabriole legs with castors to it, and do the deed in Luxembourg. Do you think they'll have a pond big enough for a 70 footer.