VAT Guidance
Indirect Tax (VAT & Customs) Support
Unlock exclusive guidance and navigate the complex world of VAT & Customs with ease.
It is important to have a broad understanding of the basic principles of indirect tax to:
- Comply with local indirect tax rules
- Reduce indirect tax exposure
- Ensure your business modelling is tax efficient to mitigate indirect tax irrecoverable costs
As a British Marine member, you have free access to PKF Francis Clark, our retained VAT and customs advisers, who can provide you with VAT and Customs advice under the British Marine Indirect Tax Helpdesk*.
British Marine have used the marine tax specialist team at PKF Francis Clark for the last three decades to provide support to members, undertake training and most importantly, to assist British Marine in representations to the Treasury and HMRC on behalf of members.
What’s included in your British Marine Membership?
Benefit from the expertise of a dedicated VAT advisor, a service valued at £300 per hour, to provide personalised consultations and solutions for your VAT concerns through the British Marine Tax Helpdesk.
(Note: Access to the helpdesk is limited to 2 hours per member, per year, subject to availability)
Access member-only FAQs on VAT, covering a wide range of topics to address common queries and enhance your understanding of the VAT rules. This guide is not exhaustive, but it offers valuable insights into:
- VAT Paid Status: Understanding its significance, required proof and implications for boats within the UK and EU.
- Qualifying Ships: Criteria to be considered a 'qualifying' ship for VAT purposes and the associated benefits.
- Various customs procedures: There are various reliefs that you may find invaluable when moving your vessel between various jurisdictions. These include Inward Processing, Returned Goods Relief, Outward Processing and Transfer of Residence.
PKF Francis Clark can provide advice, guidance and consultancy for the acquisition, cross border movement and operation of vessels within the UK, EU and more recently, the British Virgin Islands. Other areas of support include:
- Confirmation of a vessel’s VAT Paid Status through a bespoke due diligence review.
- Cross border movements and the available customs reliefs that you should consider avoiding an unnecessary indirect tax exposure.
- Determining the correct VAT liability for boats and floating structures used for residential use including other reliefs for associated expenditure.
- Considerations of the indirect, personal and corporate tax implications of chartering and other commercial uses of vessels within the UK and EU.
- Maintenance or improvement works on vessels that are undertaken in the UK or the EU.
During the Southampton International Boat Show (SIBS), advisers from PKF Francis Clark will be available to deal with any VAT and customs queries that you may have concerning boats or other marine related matter*.
*If your query is too complex to resolve by the Tax Helpdesk or at SIBS, it may be necessary to engage with PKF Francis Clark directly who will provide you with a clear scope and proposed fee for providing a comprehensive response to your query.
How do I get started?
Join British Marine today and unlock the full potential of our VAT guidance services, along with numerous other benefits tailored to support your business's growth and success.
Explore a world of bespoke advice, dedicated support and exclusive resources designed to navigate the complexities of VAT with confidence.
Join British Marine today
Interested in British Marine membership? Join online now or choose your contact preference below.
Join online
Joining online is quick and easy to do. You will be able to access your benefits in minutes.
Book a meeting
Arrange to meet a member of the British Marine team virtually or face-to-face.
Arrange a call back
Let us know when it would be a convenient time
for us to call you back.