Importing Boat into the US

[Vasco]

You can document a vessel without that vessel ever having physically been in the country of documentation. If the vessel does not enter the home country you avoid taxes and duty. However, if the vessel does enter the home country, taxes and duty will have to be paid. Normally if this takes place long after the vessel was bought the taxes and duty would be on the present value of the boat, not the original purchase price. Taxes and duty will vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Your best bet is to talk to the authorities (usually customs). I would do this a couple of times as it's been my experience that the information might vary from officer to officer. Do a search and you will find the information, it's there somewhere but often hard to find.

[rw58ph]

Call a local customs and/or freight forwarder in the your area. They will tell you what documnetaion is required, fill out the customs paper work and clear the boat for you.

[h20man]

Originally Posted by hellosailor

You might want to get a broker or attorney involved. The problem I would forsee is that a US flagged vessel must have a US home port. Now, whatever magic the Moorings did way back when...if the boat was never IN the US, it could hardly have a bonafide US home port, could it?

I don't know the answer to that but suspect that somewhere along the way, some bureaucrat may ask the same question. And unless you have a detailed answer citing otherwise, they may start throwing taxes and penalties at you. If you have any written correspondence, tax exemption statement, etc. from the old days, now is the time to find them.

USCG documentation has a 'hailing port' NOT A HOME PORT!.

you can have a hailing port as DEATH VALLEY (a well known marine center.... )

The hailing port is to help define uniqueness from the names.

The CA tax authorities call the hailing port the home port, and claim it implies a tie to CA, and they will try to tax you regardless of being in CA or not.

Of course, they look at it as you re guilty, and must prove yourself innocent.

Regardless.. Home porting and hailing port ARE different things.
I would suggest using a hailing port that IS NOT BASED IN CA.... just to help them with their fixation.

Also, re the tax issues.. A good maritime lawyer is your (very expensive) friend that probably will help save you from overzealous tax collectors.