Daniel AsmusOwner & ECPY-accredited charter broker, DMA Yachting
France charges 20% VAT on the charter fee, one of the higher rates in the Med. But there is a legitimate way to reduce it that most guests never hear about, and it is one of the real advantages of chartering the Riviera with the right broker.
Under an ECPY transport contract, the charter is framed as a transport service rather than a rental, and the VAT is waived when your itinerary crosses into international waters, for example cruising from the Riviera to Italy, Sardinia or Spain. On a EUR 200,000 charter that is EUR 40,000 saved. Not every broker can offer this: it requires ECPY accreditation, which we hold.
The catch is that it depends on the yacht, the contract, and a qualifying route, so it is a conversation to have early. Full detail with a worked example: how an ECPY contract saves the VAT.