My UK registered (and VAT paid) sailing boat has been in the EU (not UK) for five years and i wish to continue sailing and keeping her there.
So, like many others, I followed RYA
advice and have ensured that she is in the EU on 31 December 2020. With
current restrictions and
winter weather it is not sensible to try to return the boat to the UK now, even if I wished.
What is regrettable is that the RYA did not mention the three year RGR until last month when HMRC announced that if the boat wasn't in the UK at 31 December 2020 they would be
charging VAT on re-entry. Until then the message was that if the boat returned to the UK post 2020 but that VAT had previously been paid to the UK
Government then a waiver would be applied. No mention of any time limit. Even more unsatisfactory the RYA seems to be merely trying to request for a 3 year waiver period to start from now, not going back to the original assurances.
I have made representations to my Conservative MP but given that he always tows the party line I have limited expectations. So I will be making representations to Treasury Ministers too. Like some previous comments I think that we have to make our anger about this double taxation clear.