Australian registered yachts using British Berths Long term

[Reinhardt]

Hello all

Someone might be able to answer this, or point me to a thread (that I have not yet found) that does:

How long can an Australian registered yacht stay in a UK berth?

The yacht, as I mentioned, is Australian registered, and I have both British and Australian passports, as well as permanent addresses in the UK and Australia.

Most grateful for any help with this question.

Cheers

Rufus

[savoir]

With or without VAT ?

[Reinhardt]

Ah, this is an interesting point. Purchased and owned in Australia for 5 years. If there was GST applicable over here, it was paid as part of the purchase.

Would VAT be applicable if I have a receipt that states GST (the Australian equivalent of VAT)?

Cheers

[MarkJ]

Yes VAT is payable after a period but i dont know what the period is, and thats the crux of your question.

[Reinhardt]

It is: thanks Mark. Let's see if any data is forthcoming.

[beneteau-500]

I may be wrong on this you are allowed 18 months then i think you must put yacht in to bond and yourself must not remain in uk and depart to reset the clock again but if you remain in uk/eu then after 18 months you will need to pay the VAT and just because you paid the oz gst totally is irrelevant

[savoir]

Registration, your passport and Australian GST mean nothing.

It looks like you will have 18 months to get the boat out of EU or pay VAT. If you are already a UK tax resident then you owe VAT now

[Reinhardt]

So, it looks like GST is payable here on purchase, and VAT in the UK if I stay longer than 18 months. That's harsh. I guess I will need to clear out of the UK for a Med berth at 18 months then.

Thanks saviour, beneteau_500, MarkJ: much appreciated.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by Reinhardt

Hello all

Someone might be able to answer this, or point me to a thread (that I have not yet found) that does:

How long can an Australian registered yacht stay in a UK berth?

The yacht, as I mentioned, is Australian registered, and I have both British and Australian passports, as well as permanent addresses in the UK and Australia.

Most grateful for any help with this question.

Cheers

Rufus

Be aware if you have an address in the UK. You may be regarded as a UK tax resident ( do you pay any tax there etc ) in that case you will have to pay the vat on the yacht immediately on its arrival.

If you are not a tax resident , the boat had 18 months of vat free residence. This can reset by taking it out of the customs union of the EU for a day

You personally can use your uk passport to stay as long as you like

Dave

[El Pinguino]

Originally Posted by Reinhardt

That's harsh. I guess I will need to clear out of the UK for a Med berth at 18 months then.

As I understand it you will need to go to a non EU country such as Tunisia or Norway, the latter being the easiest I imagine, to reset the clock.

[Reinhardt]

Dave,

A day to reset? That's definitely interesting. I'm Australian for income tax purposes: I don't earn any money in the UK. Thanks!

[boatman61]

Leave after 17mths and sail down to Tangiers.. spend a week or two there then head into the Med...

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Leave after 17mths and sail down to Tangiers.. spend a week or two there then head into the Med...

Exactly my Portuguese friend , why stay in wet, dreary UK-land any longer then necessary

Dave

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by El Pinguino

As I understand it you will need to go to a non EU country such as Tunisia or Norway, the latter being the easiest I imagine, to reset the clock.

Or Campione d'Italia and Livigno, if you could get the boat there ! Or Ceuta and Melilla.

Note , and this is something people aren't typically aware. By way of treaty , Turkey is inside the European Union customs area ( except for agricultural foodstuffs) hence turkey cannot technically be used to reset the vat clock.

Dave

[gtpinhei]

I would say you will have the "terrible" mission of having to leave UK at least every 18 months, what is not that bad