Chesapeake and taxes

[svadagio]

Hi
I have never been to the Chesapeake but might go. What is the property tax for boats if any and registration requirements?
Bob

[Vasco]

Well you've go Maryland, Virginia and Washington,DC. bordering the Chesapeake Bay so take your pick. If you're just passing through you don't have to worry about taxes.

[bloodhunter]

svadagio
According to Maryland law:
If your vessel is duly registered in another jurisdiction but remains in Maryland waters more than 90 days in a calendar year, you may be liable for vessel excise tax unless you can prove principal use in another jurisdiction. Principal use jurisidiction meaning that the boat is there more than anywhere else.
The i paid the tax when I bought my boat -- was 5 pct of the purchase price.

Not sure about the rule sin Virginia or D/C/

[Waterway Guide]

If your vessel is USCG Documented, you do not need to register it in VA. Each county has personal property taxes at different rates, but only if you make your residence in VA, in which case, many counties have very low tax rates to attract boaters, especially in the Tidewater area (Norfolk, Hampton, etc..). VA also has the 90 day rule like MD.

[Hyprdrv]

That 5% is a one time tax, you pay it once and your done.
In VA you pay (I'm pretty sure) 2% EVERY YEAR of assessed value.
DC I'm not sure what they do there.
So if your staying for more than 3 years it may be worth registering in MD
Military gets some tax relief.
Rules change based on county in VA also.

Steve living in VA but boat in Solomons MD

[callmecrazy]

VA will assess personal property tax on your boat even if you are not a resident. Here in Hampton, it's really cheap. Like .0005 cents per $1 of value (that's not an exact number, but it's stupid cheap like that). Not sure why they even do it... I was here almost exactly 6 months when they sent me the tax letter to my home address in Ohio. Boat is registered in MD, but I'll be re-registering in VA this year because MD taxes keep going up and VA has a 3 year registration No matter where you go, somebody will try to tax you.

[AnchorageGuy]

If you will be in Maryland,
Maryland Department of Natural Resources - Boating

If you will be in Virginia,
Boat Registration and Titling

Be aware the marinas in Virginia will report to the DGIF when out of state boats are there for extended periods. Chuck