On April 15, 2021 the Court of Justice of the European Union (‘CJEU’) rendered judgment in The North of England P&I Association Ltd. case (case no. C-786/19). The CJEU ruled that the Member State where seagoing vessels are registered in the ownership register may levy insurance premium tax. According to the CJEU, this is no different if a vessel (temporarily) sails under the flag of another country. This is in accordance with Dutch rules, but deviates from the practice in several other countries. This judgment is not only important for the insurance of seagoing vessels, for which an exemption applies in the Netherlands, but also for the insurance of other vessels (such as inland barges and recreational craft), which are subject, as starting point, to 21% insurance premium tax in the Netherlands.
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