Sales / Use Tax Enforcement on East Coast

[hellosailor]

"From my reading of the Florida laws "
Yes, but why not call, email, or write directly to the officials in Florida and get a formal statement FROM THEM? They're easy to reach, and if they say "no tax" or "tax", the odds are that's what someone down there is going to try doing to you.

[imagine2frolic]

hellosailor,

nahhhhhhh....that's too easy. I was asking a similiar question here, and got several different answers. Went down to the office, and asked some questions, and bingo.

You can avoid paying taxes legally, but legally is the only way to do it. Otherwise you will be paying a whole lot more than just the taxes.

In some states you can purchase out of the country, and keep the boat out the state for 6 months. Still you can at the same time register the boat in the same state. You will have to prove it was out for 6 months, but there will be no state taxes when you take the boat home.......BEST WISHES in keeping the taxes low, or zero.......i2f,,,,,,,pm me if u wush

[hellosailor]

So FloriDUH! will let you skip the use taxes (often due if a resident buys a vehicle out of state) as long as the vehicle has been owned a paltry six months before you bring it IN state?? For sure?!

[Captgene]

Question
Hate to hijack this post but since like I can get my answer .
I'm a florida resident and coast guard licensed charter captain. I just purchased a 70ft dinner boat for commercial use on the gulf coast in gulf mexico out less then 3 miles . Its USCG documented is ,presently operatiing on the east coast of fla The vessel is USCG cerified to carry up to 149 passengers coastwsie out 3 miles . . Do I have to register it in fl and pay sale tax since it will be used for commerical business and we will paying sale tax on income to the state of fla

[Chief Engineer]

My edjumacated guess is Florida WILL want their pound of flesh.

Originally Posted by Captgene

Question
Hate to hijack this post but since like I can get my answer .
I'm a florida resident and coast guard licensed charter captain. I just purchased a 70ft dinner boat for commercial use on the gulf coast in gulf mexico out less then 3 miles . Its USCG documented is ,presently operatiing on the east coast of fla The vessel is USCG cerified to carry up to 149 passengers coastwsie out 3 miles . . Do I have to register it in fl and pay sale tax since it will be used for commerical business and we will paying sale tax on income to the state of fla

[imagine2frolic]

hellosailor,

I am not originally from Florida. I am from Ca., and there was only a title transfer fee, and registration fee when I moved here.

[Chief Engineer]

In Maryland if your bring a boat here and register it....you will pay excise tax on the value.

If the vessel is in Maryland longer than 6 months...you will pay the excise tax.

If the vessel is registered in another state, you have 90 days.

USCG Documentation doesn't mean diddly...ya still gotta pay the excise tax.

Don't try to be sneaky because they routinely walk the marinas.....and take photos.

[hellosailor]

Capt. Gene, I beleive Foriduh also has a commercial inventory/property tax, so you may be paying tax on the value of every spork, knife, and spoon on that vessel as well as the linens.

Your best bet is to contact the approrpriate state AND COUNTY business and tax offices, they are all very good at answering the phone, run large web sites, and while they don't make any bones about it, they're real helpful about making sure you know just how deeply you'll have to reach into your pockets.

Probably be a good idea to walk the docs and ask for some referrals to accountants who are familiar with the issues of your trade, a good one should save way more than he costs.

[Captgene]

After doing more research It seem like there are some broker listing boat that run commerical charter dont have to pay sale tax on the purchase. I iwll call my local tax collector monday. Still trying to find good marine accountant .

thanks Capt Gene

PS there is not table in the boat so less taxes I hope

[roverhi]

Washington State collects sales tax on any boat brought into the state. If you paid tax in another state, the state takes the difference between the Washington rate and the rate in the state of purchase. There is no income tax in WA so they are religious in collecting any possible sales tax that they think is due.

Aloha
Peter O.
Pearson 35

[gdecon]

this thread may be dead. the last entry was more than a month ago, because it isn't clear where to ask, I'll give it a try here.

The state of SC still doesn't require federaly documented vessels to be registered, Indeed it's the only state I could find where that's the case.

My question is, what happens if If I visit FL from SC without any state registration papers ?

[defjef]

Registration is the mechanism to make out of state boat purchasers who did not pay tax where they purchased the boat to pay it where they live / use the boat.

In the case where your vessel is documented by not located in the state where you live it seems odd that they can collect "sales tax". What they do in that case is try to get you to show you registered and paid taxes in another state. Ha?

It seems to be that if you can register a boat out of the state where you reside and not have to provide a proof of sale and pay sales tax, but proof of ownership as in US documentation you might be able to register in that state and tell the state you live in that your boat is registered in X state - go talk a walk.

[Pblais]

The state of SC still doesn't require federaly documented vessels to be registered, Indeed it's the only state I could find where that's the case.

As far as I know it is mostly untrue. Documenented refer to the title registration only and no state requires both. It is a federal crime to do so.

The issue that some states require additional tax whatever you want to call it is not a federal issue. In VA I pay state use stax and a personal property tax in my county but none of that has anything to do with being documeted. Were I state registred I would pay a periodic state registration fee and I don't but I still pay all the rest.

My question is, what happens if If I visit FL from SC without any state registration papers ?

Nothing! FL does not care if your title is secured if it is secureed some place. If you can't prove title the boat can be assumed to be stolen! The issue of FL tax is only an issue with FL. If you stay 90 days they need to know. There is no free pass to any state that requires more than a a title registered some place legally entitled to do so.

Most states give you credit for Use Tax paid but nothing more. If you hit the calendar limit on days then you owe tax (or the difference paid in another state).

[gdecon]

Just to make the issue clear. I'm asking a practical problem to which no one on this thread may have an answer. I am not asking

1) can states require documented vessels be titled in the state if they rieside there. Answer " NO

2) Can states require cocumented vessels that reside in thier state most of the year , be registered in thier state? answer : now yes. twenty years ago no. but who cares. .

[gdecon]

Pblais , I view you as a voice of reason in a sea of over indulgent egos's. but with respect to SC I' m not indulging in conjecture. SC doesn't require registration of documented vessels. it does impose a heay tax on any vessel "staying around to long".

My question is only substantive if my assumption that officials in fl assume vessels must be registered somewhere is correct. I am concerned with buying a documented vessel, with no state registration ( because I bought it in sc) , and having problems when I move it to fl