We would like to ensure that you are still receiving content that you find useful – please confirm that you would like to continue to receive ILO newsletters.
13 December 2017
Exporting a yacht from Italy
Usage in high seas and VAT exemption
Temporary importation regime and refitting services
A boat show held in September in Genoa, provided the opportunity to present the most recent edition of the Nautica e Fisco booklet issued by the Nautical Association Industry and the Revenue Agency. The booklet covers legal and fiscal developments in the nautical industry, including issues from registration to custom and fiscal matters.
This update looks at some of the issues reported in the latest edition of the booklet.
If a yacht is sold to a purchaser based outside of the European Union, the transaction is deemed to be exempt from value added tax (VAT), provided that:
But how can an exporter prove that the yacht has been transported out of the European Union? There was uncertainty in this regard previously.
In May 2016 the Customs Agency issued Circular 14/D, which clarified the methods available to an exporter to provide evidence confirming the transportation of a yacht out of EU waters. According to the circular, there are two alternative methods available:
Through one of the above methods, a yacht can be confirmed as having left EU waters and will therefore comply with both customs duties and VAT regimes.
Usage in high seas and VAT exemption
On January 12 2017 the Revenue Agency released Resolution 2/E, which clarified what constitutes usage of a commercial yacht in the high seas. In Italy, supplies (eg, the supply of foods and provisions, bunkers, refitting works and repairs) to commercial yachts are exempt from VAT, provided that:
The resolution clarifies the meaning of 'navigating in high seas'. A yacht can be considered to be navigating in the high seas if more than 70% of its voyages in the previous calendar year took place in the high seas. The definition of 'voyage' was not included in the resolution, however, the Nautica e Fisco indicates that a voyage is considered to be every navigation between two different ports, whereby commercial operations are taking place (ie, the embarkation and disembarkation of passengers, excluding 'technical' voyages, such as sea trials, transfers and repositioning).
Temporary importation regime and refitting services
A non-EU yacht can be imported into the European Union and be exempt from customs duties and VAT if it is imported under the temporary importation regime, provided that:
If the above criteria are met, a non-EU yacht is eligible for temporary importation for a period of 18 months.
It was previously possible to suspend the 18-month period if the yacht was in the European Union but was not being used (eg, it was stored ashore during the winter). However, under the new EU Customs Code, the ability to suspend this period has been abolished.
Yachts under the temporary importation regime should not be modified during their stay in EU waters. However, repairs, maintenance and refitting are not classified as modification and can therefore be completed under a temporary importation regime without the need to re-export the yacht immediately after the work is finished.
For further information on this topic please contact Marco Manzone at Dardani Studio Legale by telephone (+39 010 576 1816) or email (marco.manzone@dardani.it). The Dardani Studio Legale website can be accessed at www.dardani.it.
The materials contained on this website are for general information purposes only and are subject to the disclaimer.
ILO is a premium online legal update service for major companies and law firms worldwide. In-house corporate counsel and other users of legal services, as well as law firm partners, qualify for a free subscription.
Author