Fishermen who are registered for VAT are entitled to claim a refund for all VAT charged to them in respect of equipment used for their business. Fishermen who are not registered for VAT are entitled to claim back VAT charged to them as follows, under section 29, remission or repayment of tax on fishing vessels and equipment of the 1979 VAT regulations: VAT charged on the purchase, intra-community acquisition, importation, hire, maintenance and repair of seafishing vessels of a gross tonnage of not more than 15 tonnes, provided the vessel concerned has been the subject of a grant or loan from An Bord Iascaigh Mhara; VAT charged on the purchase of certain equipment related to the operation of a vessel which in the case of safety equipment would include: anchors, autopilots, bilge and deck pumps, buoys, floats, compasses, life boats and life rafts, marine lights, radar apparatus, radio navigational aid apparatus, radio telephones, provided the vessel concerned has been the subject of a grant or loan from An Bord Iascaigh Mhara.
There is no provision for relief on safety equipment, other than in the circumstances already set out. I have no plans to amend the VAT regulations that apply to unregistered fishermen.