How To Legally Avoid WA Sales Tax

[denverd0n]

Originally Posted by jmschmidt

What you ask is pretty easy but I'm not going to talk about it on this forum. Too many tax snitches read it.

Tax snitches? So, basically, you're telling him there is a way to evade the tax, but it's illegal. Otherwise, of course, "tax snitches" would be absolutely no concern at all.


He did, specifically, say that he was looking to do this legally. In fact, it's right there in the title to the thread.


I think the "how to commit crimes" forum is two door down, on the left.

[Montanan]

Originally Posted by Kenomac

Please read the thread title “SALES TAX” not “use tax.” Two completely different taxes.

To reiterate from my previous post regarding Washington sales/use taxation.

Sales and Use Tax

Use tax applies to the use of articles within this state [within Washington]
acquired without payment of sales tax. Thus, articles
purchased for use in this state are subject to sales tax
or use tax, but not both.
Sales tax is based on the selling price, while use tax is
based on the value of the article when it is first used
in Washington. The value includes any delivery charges
paid to the seller.
You owe use tax if you acquired your boat without
paying sales tax.
Sales tax and use tax rates are the same and,
depending on location, range from 7 to 9.5 percent.
If you purchase your boat from a Washington retailer,
the retailer will collect the sales tax due based on the
rate in effect at the retailer’s location. If you purchase
your boat from an individual or from out-of-state, the
county auditor or licensing agent will collect the use
tax based on the location the boat will be kept. If your
boat is not required to be registered, you may pay the
use tax by completing a Use Tax Return.

Sales and Use taxes are either / or taxes, one or the other, but for all intents and purposes they amount to one and the same as to rate but not as to how collected or as to the value that they are applied upon, although most often the value is the same as the first use date is typically the date of sale or near the date of sale. But then one could argue that there was a loss of value when it left the lot as it is then a second owner boat.

[JeffBr]

I bought a boat there last year as a OR resident. It depends if you are over 30 ft you can get a one time permit $500.00 for 1yr, if you're under 30 it can be a problem. Seems WA doesn't really want boats under 30 ft. You can go to Canada but you have to do it within I think 30 days. You will have to take the boat out of WA waters.

If you are having the boat worked on you can fill out a form to extend your stay.

Check with your broker, then check the laws yourself. I had a lot of hassles. It was a pain in the ... to buy in WA.