How can I send sailboat parts to myself in Spain for personal use without paying VAT. (I'm a US citizen going for the summer)

February 4, 2007 11:54 AM

I'm a US Citizen, and I recently bought a sailboat that is in Spain from another American. I'm preparing to go there and sail the boat around the med for the summer. I would like to purchase some of the equipment that I need here in the states before I go so I can save some $$ and get the right stuff the first time without language barriers. My question is how to get it to Spain without taking a major hit for VAT. I can take some of the items with me in my luggage, but I would like to ship a crate full of heavier things ahead of time. I have a friend who lives in Spain (Spanish citizen) who I could sent it to and have him hold it till I get there. What is the best way to avoid VAT? I'm not looking to cheat the rules here, but I don't want to pay an extra 20% on everything if I don't have to. Also, this is for personal use, and the boat is in my name. Thanks! - Eli B
posted by elib to Travel & Transportation (6 answers total)

There might be a way to get a VAT refund if you plan on exporting the items from Spain again.
posted by dcjd at 11:57 AM on February 4, 2007

odinsdream, I read that elib's statement to mean"I want to avoid the tax (only) if it van be done within the rules"
posted by winston at 12:35 PM on February 4, 2007

odinsdream: Is it really cheating the VAT rules if you already own the items? Are you actually supposed to pay the taxes twice?

It seems silly to me that you'd have to pay tax twice on personal items, but then I did end up having to pay about fifty bucks to get some peanut butter and hot sauce shipped to me by my mom. I figured that was just because it was all brand-new and my German wasn't that great yet.
posted by atomly at 1:07 PM on February 4, 2007

I once moved to another country, took a bunch of musical instruments with me and some time after I returned to my country with all the instruments. In order to avoid paying taxes for my stuff I had to go to my embassy in the country I was living in and have them "certify" that the stuff was mine.

Perhaps there is an agency of your government (or maybe the customs) that can certify that you are taking the stuff with you and you plan to return with it.
posted by micayetoca at 3:01 PM on February 4, 2007

If your yacht is non EU flagged you are entitled to a customs transit to get your goods onboard duty free; provided said goods are essential to running of said yacht. In practice this depends where your yacht is docked as some areas are more geared for this than others.
My email is in my profile. I used to part own a freight and customs agency in Spain geared especially to the needs of larger yachts; I can probably steer you in the right direction.
posted by adamvasco at 3:33 PM on February 4, 2007

I should requalify my answer above. You may get a customs transit to bring goods in from non EU countries to a non EU registered yacht. There is not tax exemption on EU goods going onboard foreign flagged yachts in EU waters. Again email in profile if you want to get more specific.
posted by adamvasco at 3:10 PM on February 5, 2007