VAT rate
VAT rate across every register we track for yachts.
What is meant by VAT rate?
The value added tax rate that applies to the vessel transactions each jurisdiction taxes.
Why does VAT rate matter when choosing a register?
VAT is often the largest single tax figure in a yacht transaction, so the applicable rate shapes how the purchase is structured.
Every register for yachts, side by side
Where a register has not published an answer, none is shown, and where the only figure available is an estimate, it is labeled as one.
| Register | Answer |
|---|---|
| British Virgin IslandsVirgin Islands Shipping Registry | No VAT at all; imported yachts meet 5 percent customs import duty instead.Customs Management and Duties Act, 2010 (No. 6 of 2010) - Virgin Islands, published by Virgin Islands Laws Online, Attorney General's Chambers (laws.gov.vg)laws.gov.vg · Schedule 4, heading 89.03Retrieved 2026-09-06Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Cayman IslandsCayman Islands Shipping Registry | There is no VAT; import duty of 22% to 27% applies instead to most goods, though vessels are rated separately.Cayman Islands, Corporate, Other taxes, PwC Worldwide Tax Summariestaxsummaries.pwc.comRetrieved 2026-08-14Corroborating source, not the register's own publicationOpen sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| GibraltarGibraltar Yacht Registry | Gibraltar has no VAT. A Transaction Tax on goods, not services, replaces import duty; yachts appear in neither its reduced nor its super-reduced rate table.Government corrects transaction tax misinformation, press release 201/2026, HM Government of Gibraltarwww.gibraltar.gov.gi · press release 201/2026Retrieved 2026-09-12Effective 2026-07-15Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Isle of ManIsle of Man Ship Registry | The standard VAT rate is 20 percent, with a few Isle of Man rates differing from the UK.VAT, Isle of Man Government, Customs and Excisewww.gov.imRetrieved 2026-08-12Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| JerseyJersey Ship Registry | No VAT applies; Goods and Services Tax is charged at 5 percent, including on imports.GST quick guide, Revenue Jersey (Government of Jersey)www.gov.jeRetrieved 2026-08-12Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| MadeiraMadeira International Shipping Register (MAR) | Madeira's rates are 4 percent reduced, 12 percent intermediate and 22 percent standard, against 6, 13 and 23 percent on the mainland.Ofício Circulado n.º 25045, de 2024-12-06, 'IVA, Taxas aplicáveis às Regiões Autónomas', Direção de Serviços do IVA, Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneirainfo.portaldasfinancas.gov.ptRetrieved 2026-08-12Effective 2024-10-01Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| MaltaMalta Ship Register | VAT runs at 18%, dropping to 12% on pleasure-boat hire that does not exceed five weeks.Value Added Tax Act (Cap. 406, Laws of Malta), consolidated text at point in time 27/03/2026, legislation.mt (Office of the State Advocate)legislation.mt · art. 19(1)Retrieved 2026-08-14Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Marshall IslandsMarshall Islands Maritime Registry | There is no VAT; a 12% consumption tax applies to supplies and imports from 1 October 2026.Consumption Tax Act 2025, 48 MIRC Chapter 9 (P.L. 2025-47), commencement 7 October 2025, Nitijela of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, as published at rmiparliament.orgrmiparliament.org · §959(2)Retrieved 2026-08-18Effective 2026-10-01Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| PanamaPanama Ship Registry | No VAT as such; the equivalent sales tax, ITBMS, runs at 7 percent, plus a 10 percent selective consumption tax on non-commercial yachts.Ley 8 de 15 de marzo de 2010, que reforma el Código Fiscal, adopta medidas fiscales y crea el Tribunal Administrativo Tributario (Gaceta Oficial Digital No. 26489-A de 15 de marzo de 2010)www.gacetaoficial.gob.pa · Art. 76 (Código Fiscal art. 1057-V, Parágrafo 6)Retrieved 2026-09-06Effective 2010-07-01Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| St Vincent and the GrenadinesSt Vincent and the Grenadines Maritime Administration | VAT is 16 percent standard and 11 percent on accommodation, with zero-rated and exempt categories alongside.Taxes, Inland Revenue Department, Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadinesird.gov.vc · What is the current rate?Retrieved 2026-08-27Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| United KingdomUK Ship Register | VAT is 20 percent on yacht sales, imports and charter, with no reduced rate.Value Added Tax Act 1994 (c. 23), latest available revised text - legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives)www.legislation.gov.uk · s. 2(1)Retrieved 2026-08-27Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
Where to go next
This item is one of many that bear on the choice. Set it beside the rest before you choose a register, and tell us if a register you need is not covered yet.