Naturally, you want to enjoy your yacht without paying more than you need in taxes, together with the prestige that comes with flying the world-renowned British shipping flag, the Red Ensign. If you register your yacht through a British Virgin Islands company, you don’t need to be a British subject to qualify. As well as reducing your tax bill, this will put you under the wing of the British consular service and entitles you to Royal Navy protection.

Red Star standards

British subjects and companies recognised as British may qualify to sail under the British flag. Crucially this includes companies registered in the British Virgin Islands, where sailing purely for pleasure attracts no tax at all. For business use such as chartering, the tax on profits is a low 15 per cent.

Working under charter from the Queen, the Red Star Group regulates the use the British flag, deciding the types and classes of vessel that qualify for registration. Standards are high, which explains the prestige of sailing British – and it brings many practical benefits too. Insurance companies set their rates to reflect the standards your yacht will have attained. Charter companies and guests gain the reassurance that comes with the Red Ensign’s effective seal of approval.

Low costs and low taxes

With a low initial registration fee, flying the Red Ensign should be to your advantage when arranging for yacht financing and changing or transfering of ownership. The tax advantages of basing registration in the British Virgin Islands mean you can enjoy smoother sailing at lower costs.

Equity Trust in the British Virgin Islands has the resources and local knowledge to take the headache out of yacht registration.

Trouble-free operations

Leave the tedious business of form-filling to us. Assisting you at every stage of the process, we will:

	Check the name that you want for your yacht is available and obtain the crucial
	documents you need – the Blue Registration Book and the all important certificate of
	British registration
	Advise on company structuring to take advantage of corporate law in the British Virgin Islands
	Establish bank or broking accounts
	Provide accountancy services and file company returns

In short, we will support you by conducting all the necessary administration, while you raise the Red Ensign (or other flag) and enjoy your yacht in the Caribbean and beyond.