Buying a Boat in Sweden

[Joh.Ghurt]

Svenskflicka,

an important information would be how old is the boat and which shipyard built it.

If the boat is older than 1992, then it falls under the grandfather-clause if you somehow can make plausible it was in EU waters. My boat falls into this category, which is a big help, as the shipyard having built mine is long defunct and there are no records left.

If the boat was built by one of the more common shipyards like Bavaria, Hanse or Dehler, contact them. There's a good chance they still have the records. If it's a home-built boat, you're safe also, as it's assumed the VAT was paid on all materials.

If it's neither case, you might be in trouble and you should consider deducting the potential VAT from the price. The seller will have the same problem with all potential buyers. There were a few tricks in the EU to keep a boat VAT-free for a long time like having it in a charter company in Croatia before they joined. That was very popular with Germans.

[Montanan]

The rules are very clear and a boat belonging to a EU citizen, or flying the flag of a EU country, must be VAT paid if it enters the EU. This means that both in home waters and when sailing between any EU countries, such boats should carry evidence of VAT payment.

Boats being used in the EU should have VAT-paid status unless they are just visiting under temporary admission status, in which case a formal application and issuance of a Temporary Importation (TI) Certificate should be obtained. The original VAT invoice, from when the boat was either first bought within the EU or when it was imported from outside the EU, is usually sufficient evidence. A boat that is VAT-paid but is sold outside the EU loses its VAT-paid status and therefore VAT must be paid if the boat is brought back into the EU.

The above applies to all boats built or brought into the EU since 1 January 1985, or on the joining dates of States that have become EU Members since then. Boats already in EU Member States and territories on 1 January 1985 pre-date the requirement.

The evidence of VAT-paid status will generally be an invoice, showing the VAT element and a VAT number, or similar document, such as a completion statement. Boats sold between companies should show the VAT element on the invoice. Some EU states (notably Holland) ask for the original invoice, but otherwise a certified copy kept on board should be adequate. Keep the original and a couple of certified copies safely elsewhere. It is vital to pass this information on when the boat is sold, as it may be requested by Customs officers in either the UK or elsewhere in the EU.

In the case of home-builds and further fit-outs, copies of all the major invoices should be kept and passed to subsequent owners to show VAT-paid status. Customs Notice 8 sets out further details.

Please note that the Revenue agencies do not have copies of individual VAT invoices from boat builders, dealers or other boat sales and servicing transactions [e.g. refittings].

[Montanan]

If you are a business and intend to use your boat for economic and taxable purposes you may be able to register for VAT on your boat. Likewise, if you are a private owner but intend to charter your boat, VAT would be deductible only on taxable related business activities and not on the private use or the boat as an depreciable asset. If you are buying a boat from a company, be aware that it will probably have had VAT reclaimed and they must be able to show you a VAT invoice otherwise you may be liable for paying the VAT.

[cruising_ollie]

International certificate is only delivered to private boat owners living in Europe. No agents is accepted.
In order to get an international certificate you have to be a member of Swedish Cruising Association.
https://www.sxk.se/english/international-certificate

[Montanan]

Originally Posted by cruising_ollie

International certificate is only delivered to private boat owners living in Europe. No agents is accepted.
In order to get an international certificate you have to be a member of Swedish Cruising Association.
https://www.sxk.se/english/international-certificate

Very similar to the Dutch light registration.

Neither provides nationality to the vessel, they are only unofficial certificates which at the time of issuance the ownership as recorded on the document was deemed credible. The document is to be returned if there is any change in said ownership. The document does not provide for a titling.

They do not avail wearing the flag of the nation of which agency or organization issued such certificate and will not be accepted as a flagging in some countries of the EU and other places in the world. The vessel is not provided the rights of a flagged boat under UNCLOS, nor does the country accept responsibility associated with said boat under UNCLOS. The boat will be of unflagged status.

They were intended to provide for cruising in inland waterways. Specifically European Recreational Inland Navigation Network. With the goal of governments to encourage further development of tourism by inland waterway, in particular, by applying the following earlier Resolutions of the Working Party on Inland Water Transport which are of direct relevance to recreational inland navigation:
• European Code for Inland Waterways (CEVNI), fifth revised edition (Resolution
No. 24, ECE/TRANS/SC.3/115/Rev.5 and Add.1);
• International Certificate for Operators of Pleasure Craft, Resolution No. 40, fourth
revised edition(ECE/TRANS/SC.3/147/Rev.4 and Amend.1);
• Small Craft Used Exclusively for Pleasure Navigation (Resolution No. 41,
TRANS/SC.3/148)