If i buy a boat from america on ebay will i get hammered with tax when it arrives in the uk?

Question

If i buy a boat from america on ebay will i get hammered with tax when it arrives in the uk?

Answer 1

Certainly. Most imported boats are staged through the Azores , where the VAT is a lot lower ( i think around 8%).

Much more deadly is that if your boat was not built in the EU , then you may have to pay to get a CE mark ( or certificate of safety) for it. This could cost you thousands.

This summer I nearly bought a Freedom 40 ( USA built) which did not have a CE mark or 'technical file' which is the same thing.My surveyor estimated £10,000 on top of what I had paid!

Take care!

Answer 2

you must have a lot of trust buying a boat unseen and tested. hope you are lucky.

Answer 3

yes!!

Answer 4

If you don't see beware>

Answer 5

Depends on how the form is filled out.

It is the green form for shipping - im drawing a blank on what it is called.

You can check Gift and no tax will be applied

If you dont you will be charged.

Answer 6

probably!

Answer 7

a word to the wise, refrain from buying boats, planes or motorcycles on ebay that are from another country. Ebay does not guarantee them as they do with cars and trucks. What I mean by that is, you can buy a boat on ebay, send the money to the "seller" by pay pal etc, and the person can keep the money and not send the boat. There is no recourse thru ebay or pay pal on these transactions between countries.  This is a common rip off. when the proper authorities are able to try to locate the "seller" it turns out to have been a scam and they rarely locate the "seller" and your money is gone.