Spain Withdraws Tourist Yacht Registration Scheme

The Spanish tourist yacht registration regime (Régimen De Matrícula Turística) will end on the 31st December, 2018.

The regime allowed for the operation of certain yachts within Spanish waters under exemption from the payment of VAT in Spain (currently 21%) and matriculacion tax (currently 12%) depending on whether the owner was a non-EU resident or an EU resident not residing in Spain as follows:

1. Non-EU residents

Non-EU residents could register their yachts under the Spanish flag without paying Spanish VAT and matriculacion tax.

Following the withdrawal of the regime, non-EU residents keeping their vessels in Spain will have the following options:

• Maintain the Spanish registration or change to an alternative flag and pay VAT on the current market value of the vessel as determined by the Spanish authorities, (note the retention of the Spanish flag will automatically create a liability to pay matriculacion tax so for many owners a flag change will be preferable)

or,

• Change the registration of the vessel to a jurisdiction located outside the VAT Territory of the EU and operate the vessel under Temporary Admission relief from VAT. We have a guide to the requirements of Temporary Admission here on our website:

Temporary Admission

2. EU residents not residing in Spain

EU residents not residing in Spain could register their yachts under the Spanish flag with VAT being payable on the vessel (if not already VAT paid) but without paying matriculation tax.

Following the withdrawal of the regime EU residents not residing in Spain who are keeping their vessels in Spain will either maintain the Spanish registration and pay matriculacion tax or change to an alternative flag.

Oceanskies can assist yacht owners who are effected by the termination of the tourist regime regime with the following services:

• For non-EU resident yacht owners wishing to follow Temporary Admission relief from VAT we can provide a re-registration service to one of the British 'offshore' registries.

• For non-EU residents wishing to pay Spanish VAT on their vessels we can provide a re-registration service to another EU registration such a the UK (London), Isle of Man or Malta as well as the British 'offshore' registries.

• For EU residents who are not resident in Spain we can provide a re-registration service to another EU registration such a the UK (London), Isle of Man or Malta as well as the British 'offshore' registries.

Please see our yacht registration landing page on our website at the following link for further information and pricing options:

Yacht Registration

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