Advice after auction win

Transportation, Travel and Trips
1
Good Morning,

I could use some answers on the VAT situation following an auction win.

Situation: There's a Swiss de-registered car being auctioned on July 7th that I plan to bid on. The auction is taking place in Switzerland by Soothby (sp.?).

I plan to register the car in Switzerland.

Question: Will I have to pay Swiss VAT on the "hammer price" if I win?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Cheers,

BillyD

2

So this ?

https://rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/c…&utm_term=CC23

Nice cars, I admire your conviction that you’re going to ‘win’.

3
I expect this lady maybe able to help you.

[[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) [+44 (0) 20 7851 7070](tel:+44 (0) 20 7851 7070)

4

Based on this it appears yes:
https://help.sothebys.com/en/support…n-my-purchase-

But if you want a clear, dependable answer I can recommend a VAT specialist in my firm.

5
Prices are a bit weird. There's a BMW Z8 selling in the local dealership, I asked to see it and it's 180+k CHF, so just like a child sitting in a toy car that doesn't drive haha. The price interval in the auction is...low? Also, checked the prices for 911 speedsters and they make no sense. Probably because VAT and buyer's premium are added to the winning bid.

Anyway, the collection of F1 cars in that place (Meilenstein) is quite nice

6
Yes. As additional info, the car I'm interested in is 52 years old. Don't know if this makes a difference VAT wise.

7
I think this thread is misplaced...doesn't it belong in First World Problems?

8
isn't every issue in Switzerland a first world problem? It's a legitimate question afaic but I would go with Biro's suggestion and ask the person responsible.

9

this one?
https://rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/c…riolet/1338208

Looks like the grey card has been cancelled. You insure it and take it to the StvA to register in your name. That’s it (well, dependent on the MFK status).

Really nice car btw!

10

11
I've bought Swiss deregistered cars at auction and it was then quite easy. As it was VAT paid new, there was no VAT to pay. It just need to have the official road test and it went back onto Geneva plates. The whole process took just 3 days and I left my garage to handle it all.

12

It presumably depends on who the actual seller is:

Private sales (i.e. a one-off sale of a car) are VAT exempt, however, you would still pay the VAT on the auctioneer’s premium (cf. also https://rmsothebys.com/en/home/biddi…?salecode=cc23 )

If the seller is doing the sales as part of its business and is subject to VAT, the sale would be subject to VAT as well as the auctioneer’s premium.

Would need more info to be more precise, and as mentioned in a previous post. If you need a dependable answer, I know a guy who does this for a living.

13
If you buy from a private person, there is no VAT.

Tom

14
Thanks to all of you helping me on this. Very much appreciated.

15
Again, thanks for the advice .

Do any of you happen to have a resource I can call to handle the CH registration for me? Thanks in advance.

16

I would go to the Strassenverkehrsamt St. Gallen (seeing as you are located in St. Gallen):
https://www.sg.ch/verkehr/strassenve…euloesung.html