Taxation logo taxation mission text

Since 1927 the leading authority on tax law, practice and administration

Readers' forum : Blistering barnacles

06 June 2017
Issue: 4602 / Categories: Forum & Feedback

Is the cost of repairing a charter yacht a revenue or capital expense?

A client with a ‘skippered’ yacht charter business had the yacht she uses in that business subject to a survey before it was to be sold. The survey disclosed osmosis the process by which water molecules penetrate the hull and causes blisters. The client chose to have the yacht professionally treated and repaired to make it (please excuse the pun) saleable.

Can the treatment cost be considered as a revenue expense for tax purposes?

The treatment required the yacht’s removal from the water and a period of months ‘drying out’. This significantly curtailed its use in the business and as a consequence it reduced the income that would normally have been generated.

No VAT was paid on purchase of the yacht which was kept in the client’s name but the charter business is VAT-registered.

Would the sale of the yacht be liable to VAT output...

If you or your firm subscribes to Taxation.co.uk, please click the login box below:

If you are not a subscriber but are a registered user or have a free trial, please enter your details in the following boxes:

Alternatively, you can register free of charge to read a limited amount of subscriber content per month.
Once you have registered, you will receive an email directing you back to read this item in full.
back to top icon