Registering a boat in Oregon (bought in FL)

[solecollector]

Hello all -

I am purchasing a boat in FL that I will be taking trips to the Keys and the Bahamas. I live in Portland, OR (have for four years) but I stay in the FL keys as well and vote in the Keys as we are usually here when that time comes around.

My question is one that has been asked a few times. My legit address is Portland - can I register the vessel in OR even though it will be awhile before the boat makes it to Portland? The boat will be around $500k. In Portland we don't have to pay any sales tax (was pretty nice when I bought a car there a few years back) and in FL it looks like they pay up to $18k for tax on a boat.

Thank you for your responses!

[jeremiason]

If you keep the boat in Florida, you will have to pay Sales Tax there...

There might even be an arguement you are already a resident of Florida, since you vote in Florida.... Flordia State Law requires you to be a Permenant Resident of Florida to Vote in Florida.

Frequently Asked Questions - Florida Division of Elections - Department of State

The good thing is Florida has capped their State Sales Tax at $18k for boats.

[Kettlewell]

Sales tax and registration are based on where the boat is located, not what address you are using. In Florida you have to register a boat even if it is US Coast Guard documented. However, there is no reason you can't document it using your Oregon address--the CG doesn't care where you do that, as long as it is a place within the USA.

[solecollector]

That is what I thought - was hoping for something different. Obviously having the boat in the FL Keys is a little more fun than Portland for how I sail.

Thanks!

[Kettlewell]

If you bought the boat outside of Florida and owned and used it outside of Florida in another state for more than six months before it entered Florida, no sales or use tax would be due.

[jeremiason]

Originally Posted by Kettlewell

If you bought the boat outside of Florida and owned and used it outside of Florida in another state for more than six months before it entered Florida, no sales or use tax would be due.

That is true, except that you would most likely owe taxes to the other state you kept the boat in for six months....

Here is the Florida Law:
http://dor.myflorida.com/dor/forms/2011/gt800005.pdf

Use tax and surtax are not due on boats brought to Florida if you meet all of the following conditions:
• You own the boat 6 months or longer, and
• You have shown no intent to use the boat in Florida at or before the time of purchase, and
• The boat has been in use 6 months or longer within the taxing jurisdiction of another state, U.S. territory, or the District of Columbia. Time spent in foreign waters does not count as part of the 6-month period.