VAT exemption on pre 1985

[Sprinter32]

Hi can anyone out there tell me, If I were to buy a boat age of build 1982 from the us and have it skippered to the UK ,Will I be liable for vat, assuming the boat has not been out US waters .
Or is it true that no one will bother to chase it up?
hope someone can shed light on this.
Bobby

[Liquorice]

I doubt most readers on this forum know what VAT is!
Try:
Practical Boat Owner's Reader to Reader - Yachting and Boating World Forums
This is a Brit sailing forum - someone there will know.
sam :-)

[tdw]

Originally Posted by Sprinter32

Hi can anyone out there tell me, If I were to buy a boat age of build 1982 from the us and have it skippered to the UK ,Will I be liable for vat, assuming the boat has not been out US waters .
Or is it true that no one will bother to chase it up?
hope someone can shed light on this.
Bobby

Presuming you mean to keep the boat in the UK permanently.

Strictly speaking yes you will. Had the boat been built in the UK it would be exempt but importing will make you liable for both import duty (if applicable) and vat. (VAT being a retail sales tax , also known as GST.)

OK I am speaking from an Australia perspective but as soon as your boat is cleared in then the tax man is going to be onto it. Standard customs protocol.

[Sprinter32]

Thanks for that one, So a bargain is not quite as good as it appears.
I think looking in the US for a boat is out for me.
Bobby.