moving a US Boat up to Canada

[Mike OReilly]

Beyond the limited exemption amounts, all foreign-bought items that are brought into the country are subject to relevant sales taxes and duties. Boats are nothing special, and no different.

[pcmm]

Originally Posted by Borlay

I would move the boat up to Blaine harbour. Keep it in the US. Very close to the border. Easy to pop over to go sailing. Depending on where you live of course.

There is a danger in that, the U.S. is becoming more and more politically unstable. I would just register it, bring it back and pay the HST on it (if its a NAFTA boat). Its not a complicated process to bring it in. Just make sure you have a CC with a really big limit to pay the taxes!!!


I bought a U.S. boat and had it in the states for a while, but after the 2016 election I was in a big hurry to bring it Back to Canada before things got unstable. (thankfully they didn't, got close but...)

[Don C L]

Originally Posted by pcmm

There is a danger in that, the U.S. is becoming more and more politically unstable.

Yikes!

[Montanan]

Is the boat documented [USA flag] with the USCG or is it titled with the State of Washington?

If the boat is documented with the USCG and thus flagged as a USA nationality you will need to have it removed from the USCG registry so as to be able to register it anew in Canada.

If it is registered / titled with the State of Washington you should have the previous owner report the State [the report of sale document does NOT transfer title] and execute the title transfer on the State titling document.

A useful State of Washington Bill of Sale Document:
https://www.dol.wa.gov/forms/formsvital/420065


https://billofsale.net/wa/washington...-bill-of-sale/

Reference: https://dol.wa.gov/vehicles-and-boat...port-sale-boat

[Montanan]

Originally Posted by pcmm

There is a danger in that, the U.S. is becoming more and more politically unstable.

Ha, we have contingency plans for that here in 406 Country / The Last Best Place.

The Province of Montana.

[David Mathis]

We're on the other side of the continent where we boat primarily on the Hudson River and Lake Champlain. Many Canadian boats are kept in US marinas just a little south of the border. They have Canadian registration but have never been in Canada. Ask the owners why and you'll get the same answer - taxes. They don't pay the taxes until the boat enters the country. They spend their summers on Lake Champlain or head to Long Island, Atlantic City, or maybe take the Erie Canal to the Great Lakes. But don't enter their home country due to the high tax issue.

[sv_pelagia]

"many" doesn't equal "most" or even a significant # (compared to the number of Canadian boats moored north of border).

Plenty of boats here in BC that were purchased in USA and imported.

Not everyone avoids taxes.

[boatpoker]

Originally Posted by Jennysitter

Hello everyone,

We are Canadian and bought a boat in Everett WA, now thinking of moving it up to Canada. Do I need to acquire the Canadian registration first before moving it or Can I do it once the boat is in Canada?

Thank you!

Much easier to apply now and ask for a "Provisional Certificate" pending final details and tonnage measurement if required.
https://tc.canada.ca/en/marine-trans...al-certificate

[SuW]

Originally Posted by Montanan

Ha, we have contingency plans for that here in 406 Country / The Last Best Place.
The Province of Montana.

45°N or fight?

[Mach8Knots]

If you buy a boat in the US and keep it there, but register it in Canada, isn’t there some restriction as to who you can sell it to if and when that time comes? Something like “not for sale to US residents while in US waters”

[Montanan]

Originally Posted by Mach8Knots

If you buy a boat in the US and keep it there, but register it in Canada, isn’t there some restriction as to who you can sell it to if and when that time comes? Something like “not for sale to US residents while in US waters”

The not for sale to US residents issue is not a factor in this circumstance because the boat has already been imported into the US or is of USA origin.

The only time one will see the "not for sale to US residents" clause is when the vessel is in temporary import admission status and has not had import taxes paid.

A vessel that is under temporary admission is not allowed to be sold or marketed to residents in the country [or territory, e.g., the EU] as it does not have freedom of commerce status and thus cannot be advertised / marketed for sale to residents in the customs territory. To make market in a country one has to import the good into the country.

Thus in this duty having been paid, if any, situation the OP can market their vessel for resale in the USA, albeit subject to the standard State privilege taxations, e.g., Sale / Use taxation, excise taxes, etc.

[LeighWebber]

I recently bought a boat in Anacortes, WA and imported it to Canada. I did not have to pay PST because I am a US citizen. I did have to pay GST and import duty(9.5% I think). Import duty is not required if the boat is 50 years old. Mine wasn't.

[catman]

I used a local customs broker to import my french catamaran into BC.
I had to pay import duty and PST. It was awhile ago so things may have changed. Give a customs broker a call and they will tell you what you need to do.
Good luck.

[pcmm]

Originally Posted by LeighWebber

I recently bought a boat in Anacortes, WA and imported it to Canada. I did not have to pay PST because I am a US citizen. I did have to pay GST and import duty(9.5% I think). Import duty is not required if the boat is 50 years old. Mine wasn't.

If the boat was built in North America (NAFTA boat) there is no import duty

[FoxIslander]

Option C:

Sail the boat to La Paz...10 yr Import Permit to Mx. Cheap AND you're in the Sea of Cortez.
I'm kidding......sort of.