Forums, Everything Else, VAT

Tessa65 at 27/06/2016 10:38:16
help!! Am hoping to enter Ella in the Classic Channel Regatta next year which of course means crossing the Channel to France and hence the declaration of VAT
Ella was the Paris Boatshow model in 1980 and then bought by a French model who kept her in S of France until she was shipped back to the UK circa 2006. JR thinks that she was built in 1979/80 but has no record of VAT receipt. VAT must have been paid at some point but her previous owners have no record. I have tried the Gov website Notice 8: sailing your pleasure craft to and from the UK but it’s all getting v complicated. Section 4.2 states: ‘Certain vessels that were in use as private pleasure craft prior to 1/1/85 and were in the EU on 31st Dec 1992 may be deemed VAT paid under Single Market transitional arrangements’. Although in the light of recent events it may all change!!
Does anyone have any information about the best way to proceed in this matter??
Edited: Tessa65 on 2016-06-27 10:41:30

Keny at 28/06/2016 16:13:20
Hello Anna – I’ve just looked up my mrca records where I have jotted down the purchase price of £10,610 & v.a.t.
I could only have got this from JR.
However v.a.t. was confirmed in 2000 with ‘Customs & Excise’ in Southhampton on surviving documents.
If any previous owner has registered with mrca the proof might be there.

Tessa65 at 28/06/2016 18:04:35
Hi Kenny
Thank you so much for your reply. Will contact the mca

George Isted at 04/07/2016 21:40:19
I can’t help other than so say that you are very, very, very unlikely to be asked to prove that VAT has been paid on a boat that is the age of ours. The French customs folks are far more interested on “modern” boats that would have been built since the current rules came into force.

I have never been asked to provide this info and having spoken with many sailing friends about this they have never been asked either.

Tessa65 at 05/07/2016 07:17:42
Hi George
Thanks for your reply – having spoken to others in the Classic Regattas they also echoed your thoughts. . I have asked JR if they have any record of the original builders certificate.
I hope you are ok? I have been following the triangle race and then the single Fastnet and heard that you had been injured. Nothing too serious I hope.

George Isted at 05/07/2016 11:12:56
Just a bump on the head and annoyed at myself :-(

doug at 29/07/2016 12:23:36
Hi Anna,

HMRC have issued advice on the subject which more or less confirms what has already been said above.

An enthusiastic Customs Officer has asked me for proof of VAT in France though he did not follow it up and passed the matter over. His parting words to me were:

“You know you should carry this information – we can ask you for it”

Anyway I now carry a translation of the UK HMRC advice to cover any future inconvenience. In brief, it says that if you carry a Bill of Sale and registration details (proof of build date) then, whilst this not prove that VAT was originally paid, it does confirm that the matter is the sole business of the UK authorities.

I can send you a copy of this if it is any use, I can’t see any obvious way of attaching it…
Edited: doug on 2016-07-29 12:25:14

Tessa65 at 01/08/2016 08:26:13
Hi Doug
Thanks for your reply. I think I have found the same information on the HMRC website. I have emailed JR to see if they would be able to provide a bill of sale.