Canadian Buying and Mooring a Boat in the US
 

I am a Canadian considering a purchase of a used sailboat to stay moored in the US. Does anyone know what the transfer and tax implications are in this scenario? I currently own a Canadian boat moored in the US and was not asked to pay any tax or transfer fees other than a US cruisers permit.

Thanks,
Alex

Also Canadian. You have a couple of options. If it's in Florida, for example, you can pay the State tax and get a licence (tag) which will cost you 125$+- every year. Other option, undocument US (you have to do that regardless) and document cdn. If it's a monohull, you will be able to do the tonnage measurement yourself. If it's a multihull, it will have to be done by a registered tonnage surveyor. Transport Canada have all forms online and can pont you in the right direction. Once you have your cdn documentation, you get your cruising permit.

Good luck!

Re: Canadian Buying and Mooring a boat in the US
 

Thanks Felix!! I appreciate the help!

Alex

Re: Canadian Buying and Mooring a Boat in the US
 

What state are you going to keep the boat in ? Some states will require a state boaters licence. Were in Wa state and it is an open book type of test you mail in with $10.00 so someone knows you read the Rules of the Road like the coast guard goes by and kids under 12 cannot operate a vessel legally mostly because of persional watercraft accidents. I guess sence WA state has so much inland salt water ( the Salish Sea) where commercial boats mix with recorational boaters. Every state is a little different.

Re: Canadian Buying and Mooring a Boat in the US
 

EVERY state is going to want proof that you paid sales tax on the boat, and if not they're gonna ding you.

But it really depends on which state it's kept in to give you better info.

Re: Canadian Buying and Mooring a Boat in the US
 

We really know about paying tax in Wa state after last spring when we paid almost $10,000.00 to bring sv We Be Jammin into the state from San Diago. We also got a letter from California about paying sales tax in San Diago but sence we had already pain in Wa we didn't owe anything.

Re: Canadian Buying and Mooring a Boat in the US
 

lol, yeah, the two worst ones :D In Ca we got dinged for sales & property tax on the boat, AND the slip we were renting:banghead:

Well it looks like I'm buying CDN then. The only thing I paid for last time was a cruisers permit. Thanks for the advice, all.

Akex

Re: Canadian Buying and Mooring a Boat in the US
 

I paid about 10% state license for the boat I bought in Calif + $195 for titling.

Re: Canadian Buying and Mooring a Boat in the US
 

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Alex & felix ll.

you may be missing out on a LOT of good deals in the US... it's really not that difficult to undocument a US vessel and document CDN. and not that expensive either, considering all the deals out there

thank you, glad to have joined, lots of interesting tidbits here

Re: Canadian Buying and Mooring a Boat in the US
 

Hi Felix, so if you buy a boat in the US, and undocument, then document in Canada, you avoid US state tax and only have to worry about CDN Tax? I plan to sail from Ca and sell the boat before I go back to Canada, but if for some reason I do sail back, I'd prefer to avoid paying sales tax twice.

Re: Canadian Buying and Mooring a Boat in the US
 

There is no fee for a cruising permit.

Re: Canadian Buying and Mooring a Boat in the US
 

I'm no tax lawyer but I think the US tax situation is going to entirely depend on the state where you purchase. Last winter we had 45 days to get out of Dodge (Seattle) after we bought Gray Hawk. Evidently there is some way to delay that process but we thought it was easier to just get out. As you have correctly surmised though when you register in Canada you have to pay the provincial tax and the GST immediately. I think its less common now but there used to be a lot of Canadians owned RVs in the US through Montana corporations. You might want to phone a lawyer in Montana and ask about that option. I asked when we bought our bus and the advice I got at the time was that it could work if we never left the US but crossing the border with a Canadian passport/drivers license and a US registered coach could get exciting. If you don't plan to cross the border though that wouldn't be a concern.