VAT Exemption for High Seas Navigation: Conditions for Public Entity Ship Purchases

• The Italian Revenue Agency examined conditions for VAT exemption for high seas navigation.
• The exemption applies to ships used in high seas navigation and commercial or fishing activities.
• The case involves an oceanographic ship sold to a non-economic public research entity.
• The entity is a VAT subject only for commercial activities.
• The ship must be used in high seas for at least 70 percent of annual trips and for commercial purposes.
• The entity will use the ship for scientific research, funded by public contributions.
• The commercial nature of the activity is assessed based on the ship’s use.
• Public authority activities are not commercial, while private law activities are.
• The entity does not act as a public authority in purchasing the ship.

Source: eutekne.info

Note that this post was (partially) written with the help of AI. It is always useful to review the original source material, and where needed to obtain (local) advice from a specialist.

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