California Boat Tax

[tardog]

It looks like I'm going to buy a used boat and have it shipped into California, where it will be temporarily kept (a few months) until we sail. No sales tax will be due in the state where the sale will take place, as the boat is leaving within 30 days. Does anyone know if tax will be due in California? I'm a resident of yet another state and can't seem to get a definite answer from anyone.

Thanks.

[Randyonr3]

Tax is due in the state of California IF the boat is brought into the state prior to a 6 month period. Yearly tax (property) is figured on the first day of January no matter when you brought it in or how long it will be here.
If your boat is documented outside the state and your just passing through, which sounds like you are, there's no tax due...
Unless you plan on documenting within the state, you'll then have to pay..

[tardog]

Interesting...so it's 6 months for this type of deal but only 3 months for the off-shore requirement. Thanks for the answer.

[TaoJones]

TD, be very careful about relying on what you may or may not learn in a forum such as this. California will always take the position that you owe what they say you owe, when they say it, and it's up to you to "prove" them wrong. The only safe thing to do is to hire a professional service that deals with California tax issues before you ever bring your vessel into the state.

TaoJones

[hellosailor]

tardog, try these:

California Boat Registration Procedure, Forms, & Information - DMV.ORG

and

Information about vessels, boats, and watercraft