Registration Options and VAT Implications

[Kojiro]

I have just bought a greek boat as an Australian and therefore the boat will stay VAT exempt.

I have options to register the boat as an Australian boat ($1200AUD), or as a British boat (SSRT = #25GBP).

If I were to take the British option (cheaper) does anyone know or have any idea about how that may have implications for VAT?

I'll be sailing through Greece, Turkey, Croatia etc over the next 12-18 months.

[goboatingnow]

You can only register on the British register if you have a locally uk address agent.

As to VAT, you will not loose the TIR ( temporary import relief) once you do not become an EU tax resident. , ie in general you cannot stay in any one country for more them 180 days.

Under TIR. You will get 18 months VAT free period that can be restarted by going outside the Eu with the boat for a day ( say Croatia )

A bigger problem is that you the person is only entitled to 90 days in any 180 under the Schengen visa agreement, this applied cumulatively across all Schenfen countries.

Australians do have some specific longer stay VISA arrangements with specific EU countries. Check out their consulate web sites. This may need to be set up well in advance of leaving Oz.

All in all if I was to cruise the med on am Australiann passport I register the boat in Australia.

Dave

[Kojiro]

What if I cruise on my UK passport?

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by Kojiro

What if I cruise on my UK passport?

Be very careful here. If you have a Uk passport, you may run into trouble convincing custom people you are not a EU tax resident. Especially if it has a UK address. I would avoid that. You'll end up carrying papers to try to prove your not a UK resident.

vAT paid boat , yes , no vat , you need to seen as am Australian.

Dave

[Kojiro]

Yes, I think the only (safe) option is to pay the extra for Australian regustration.

I was just hoping to maybe save $1000AUD.

Thanks.

[beneteau-500]

why hasnt the vat been paid by the seller has the yacht been de-registered from the greek shipping yet ?

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by beneteau-500

why hasnt the vat been paid by the seller has the yacht been de-registered from the greek shipping yet ?

Could be a soon to be ex Charter yacht.... they're usually ex VAT.. and I doubt its on the Greek Register..

[beneteau-500]

and here lien the prob under new rules the Greek government introduced and yes if it was under charter in greece it will be on the register the Goverment introduced new rules that if yacht does not complete a certain amout of charter days then vat will become liable on a pro-rota basis this is why at the moment a few have changed there flag status of there yachts (ie private individuals a lot of those who own 3 or 4 yachts )

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by beneteau-500

and here lien the prob under new rules the Greek government introduced and yes if it was under charter in greece it will be on the register the Goverment introduced new rules that if yacht does not complete a certain amout of charter days then vat will become liable on a pro-rota basis this is why at the moment a few have changed there flag status of there yachts (ie private individuals a lot of those who own 3 or 4 yachts )

Ahhh... but I think the Moorings and Sunsail boats that move Carib to Med and back each season are not in that grouping.. hence VAT and re-flagging... could be US or UK..

[Kojiro]

As a non- eu citizen I buy and have no vat liability. The boat has to be deregistered and transferred into my name....and then to be oky to sail around I have to register as australian boat.

That's about it.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by Kojiro

As a non- eu citizen I buy and have no vat liability. The boat has to be deregistered and transferred into my name....and then to be oky to sail around I have to register as australian boat.

That's about it.

Yup that's about it