Petition launched over second UK VAT payments for boats

The petition calls on the UK Government to rethink its decision to charge some boat owners a second UK VAT payment when returning their boat from the EU

A petition has been set up to lobby Parliament about the HMRC UK VAT rules for UK flagged vessels returning to the UK from the EU

The petition calls on the Government to allow British-owned vessels to keep their UK VAT status indefinitely, regardless of how long they have been in the EU. Credit: Getty

The Cruising Association (CA) is supporting a petition calling on the UK Government to rethink its decision to charge some boat owners a second UK VAT payment when returning their boat from the EU.

Currently, UK sailors whose boats have been in the UK under present ownership and were in the EU at the end of the Brexit transition period, and who are unable to meet the three year condition of Returned Goods Relief (RGR), have until 30 June 2022 to bring their boats back to the UK from Europe to avoid paying a second UK VAT payment.

Boat owner Andrew Camper has now launched a petition to lobby Parliament to change the rules.

He argues that British registered vessels should keep their UK VAT paid status ‘indefinitely’.

‘It is most unfair to charge people like myself twice. Total injustice. Even the EU accepts the vessel is VAT paid, so why does the UK not?’ he questioned.

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The chair of the CA’s Regulations and Technical Services (RATS) group, Robin Baron, said the CA ‘supports anything that seeks to put pressure on HM Government to improve the VAT treatment of UK owned leisure vessels, including this petition.’

In relation to lobbying HMRC, the CA President, Julian Dussek explained that following up on his previous correspondence, a further letter has been sent to HMRC outlining the problem, its economic impact and urging HMRC to make changes.

‘The situation with VAT requirements remains fluid as there is still uncertainty about aspects of HMRC’s conditions,’ said Dussek.

To sign the petition click here

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