VAT on boat transported to Italy

[carstenb]

CAn anyone tell me how stringent the Italian authorities are about charging the reimportation VAT on European boats that have been outside the EU for more than 3 years.

I know they are supposed to charge it . but from what I have heard, it is hit or miss if they actually do.

[svtickles]

I heard from an acquaintance that heard that someone was stopped for having an EU VAT paid boat whilst holding an Italian passport and was charged by the authorities the Italian VAT on their boat. The authorities alleged they were avoiding paying their own country taxes... The owner contested that they were not residents in Italy and they had in fact paid it elsewhere, but that didn't matter: the coast guard impounded the boat.

They also told me of a Brazilian flagged boat that arrived in Italy to visit and the coast guard argued the same thing: Italian passport holders must pay the VAT. The boat was impounded as the family couldn't pay.

So I'm a bit scared of visiting Italy since I have their passport (but live elsewhere). Our boat will be Polish flagged.