Croatia yacht registration
On July 1st, 2013 the Republic of Croatia will join the European Union (EU) and become its full member. Croatia has wide opened a unique opportunity of getting EC VAT PAID STATUS for just 5-7%. You can take advantage of this loophole of lowered tax and customs rates only until May 31st 2013. Vessels owned by EU residents, registered in the EU which have been temporarily admitted to Croatia and have lost the customs status of Community goods, or vessels registered in third countries temporarily imported by EU residents, can no longer be in the status of temporary importation. Owners of such vessels shall file a customs declaration for putting their vessels into free circulation, and pay the customs duties and VAT.
Croatian government has prescribed special custom and tax rates for vessels importation
Take advantage of this unique opportunity provided by the Croatian government which has adopted a regulation by which a unique VAT rate of 5% has been set when putting vessels temporarily admitted in Croatia into free circulation from January 1st 2013., with the procedure ending at the latest on May 31st 2013. The corresponding customs rate will also be lowered to 1,7%, that is to 2,7% (depending on customs code of the goods). Should the vessel have a preferential origin from countries the Republic of Croatia has a Free trade agreement with, and accompanied by the required proof of preferential origin, it is possible to apply a preferential customs rate of 0%. All sport and leisure crafts that have been temporarily admitted to Croatia before the customs declaration has been submitted may be put into free circulation. This means that vessels that have been temporarily admitted to Croatia after January 1st 2013, that is after the beginning of the application of the new customs and VAT rates, may also be put into free circulation under these favorable terms. Non-EU residents may also use the advantages of the lowered VAT and customs rates.
What if you do not have “temporarily admitted status” – make one
You may consider this as turning a blind eye which is valid till May 31 2013. Your vessel has to enter Croatian waters as an ordinary visiting yacht with custom clearance, vignette then getting a contract with any marina and voila, here you are. Getting Croatian flag is VERY complex and time consuming procedure needing 12/20 documents (for an illustration) and we honestly doubt you can do it by yourself.
Can we help?
Yes, we do but, due to workload, we accept yachts over 12m only. These vessels have to be registered with Croatian Register of Shipping. After the importation of the vessel into the Republic of Croatia (putting into free circulation), the vessel can also be registered with Croatian Register of Shipping and carry the Croatian flag. According to the currently valid regulations, there is no obligation of buying the yearly vignette for navigation in the Croatian territorial waters nor is there the obligation of keeping the crew and passenger list for Croatian vessels. You can entrust us the entire procedure and administration involving the customs clearance, mediation for importation procedure and vessel registration. Contact us for our detailed service packages we offer regarding the documentation which has to be collected and submitted.
Check before jump
Before going any further, check the status of your vessel regarding the tax aspect in your home country, the country of registration of your vessel or the country in which the tax obligation for your vessel might have been regulated, as soon as possible. Many boat owners may not be aware that they are potentially obliged to pay customs and tax – we highly recommend to check this matter because the period since the day the obligations have been settled is also important, regarding the fact that the vessel is most likely located outside of the EU for the entire period. After June 1st 2013, when putting vessels into free circulation in Croatia, the full rate of VAT will be charged which currently amounts to 25%.
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