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problems taking a boat to Italy

Discussion in 'General Yachting Discussion' started by david_japp, Aug 15, 2011.

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  1. david_japp, Aug 15, 2011
    #1
    david_japp

    david_japp Senior Member

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    I have been told that British flagged yachts that are based in Italy, or that even enter Italian waters, risk having an matriculation charge being imposed and/or VAT being charged, as per the situation in much of Spain. Is that correct and if so is there anything that can be done to mitigate the problem?

    (FYI my boat has had VAT paid - I live permanently in the UK, am a British subject and taxpayer and I have no property or assets outside the UK.)

    best

    David
  2. K1W1, Aug 15, 2011
    #2
    K1W1

    K1W1 Senior Member

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    Hi,

    If you are fully VAT Paid in one jurisdiction I am pretty sure that you will be ok.

    Saying that the whole VAT system when applied to yachts seems to be getting very cloudy these days, there are conflicting "interpretations" of VAT Laws doing the rounds.

    For a professional opinion I would suggest that you could contact this chap.

    Ayuk Ntuiabane - Director
    ayuk.ntuiabane at moorestephens dot co.im

    He writes a monthly update for the yachting sector, I can send you the one for July if you PM me an e mail address It is too big to post here being 570 kB.
  3. david_japp, Aug 15, 2011
    #3
    david_japp

    david_japp Senior Member

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    thanks for responding - I think the problem I've been warned about has more to do with implied residency, rather than VAT ...I'd like to see the the report you refer to but last time I posted my email on the forum I got into trouble with the YF administrator !!
  4. NYCAP123, Aug 15, 2011
    #4
    NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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    Send him a PM with your e-mail addy. Don't post it on the open forum.
  5. K1W1, Aug 16, 2011
    #5
    K1W1

    K1W1 Senior Member

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    Hi,

    I have sent the OP a Private Message with my e mail address. I will send him the current and any previous VAT Notes I have that he wants if he responds.
  6. tristanrowe, Aug 16, 2011
    #6
    tristanrowe

    tristanrowe Member

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    Hi K1W1,
    Please could you do the same for me, I have just heard one yacht that wont berth here for a similar reason, I always feel that people are quickly scared by the "Tax" possibility and will therefore take avoiding action rather than get stuck in to the details and confirm whether there is a real issue.
    I quite understand this though as I live in Italy and love the Italians to bits but they do have their own individual ways of interpreting things like this, even within the same office!
  7. david_japp, Aug 16, 2011
    #7
    david_japp

    david_japp Senior Member

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    Italy problem

    Hi
    Can you tell me the circumstances of the yacht and the problem to which you refer?,
    Best
    David
  8. tristanrowe, Aug 16, 2011
    #8
    tristanrowe

    tristanrowe Member

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    Hi David,

    I'm afraid I can't get in to any specifics regarding the yacht, I hate to be all cloak and dagger as it always seems a bit OTT, but I have to in this circumstance and to be honest i'm not fully versed on the yachts status but just know its intentions.
    I'm keen personally to get informed on this topic as I represent a UK Shipyard in this part of the Med and more knowledge from an Italian official would help make things clearer.
  9. david_japp, Aug 16, 2011
    #9
    david_japp

    david_japp Senior Member

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    ...I'll see what I can ascertain from me here in the uk but if, as I understand to be the case, you're based Italy I'd have thought you'd be better placed to find outwhat the local problems are..
    Best
    David

    David
  10. tristanrowe, Aug 16, 2011
    #10
    tristanrowe

    tristanrowe Member

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    Quite right, in my haze this morning I mistook the moorestephens dot co dot im as meaning "Imperia" which is local to to me rather than the IOM, stupid mistake as Italy is obviously dot it, got no idea how I made that connection in my head???
    Anyway I will have a chat with a few of my local agents as they certainly wont want to lose the business and should be well versed.