moving a US Boat up to Canada

[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!

[bgallinger]

You can register the boat in Canada after your arrival.

[Mike OReilly]

Register is once you’re here. Just be prepared to pay all the taxes (GST+PST), and possibly duty if it a boat outside of the old NAFTA rules. Used to be that non-NAFTA boats netted an additional 9.5%. Not sure what it is now.

[Jennysitter]

Originally Posted by bgallinger

You can register the boat in Canada after your arrival.

Thank you!

[Jennysitter]

Thank you Mike. I thought it was just PST?

[TrentePieds]

Possibly also "luxury tax".

Best contact a Customs Broker. Such a beast is legally required to give you COMPLETE and CORRECT information. We here on CF are not!

TrentePieds

[Mike OReilly]

Just to note, my current boat was bought in the USA. I imported it to Canada (Ontario). It’s very easy, but it is best to confirm the duty and luxury tax (forgot about that one) thing before you hit the border. Sales taxes are non-negotiable.

[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.

[sv_pelagia]

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.

If they are Canadians resident in Canada, if they do not formally import boat into Canada, they will not be able to sail rountinely from Blaine into Canada....

[Sailingallday]

Do not bring the boat to Canada unless you want to just give money to the government. If you can, keep it in WA and go there to use it. Taxes will be as described above

GST
PST
Duty (if built outside of NAFTA). For example, a lagoon boat (built in France) can attract a duty of 15%
The new luxury tax if the boat is worth more than $250000 is 10%on the retail cost or 20% on the amount that exceeds the $250000

All those taxes are immediately due and payable on arrival in Canada. There is no grace period

No matter how you slice it, bring a boat to Canada is expensive. It’s best (and super cheap) to register it in Canada and keep it outside of the country.

[Maryscoty1]

Originally Posted by Sailingallday

Do not bring the boat to Canada unless you want to just give money to the government. If you can, keep it in WA and go there to use it. Taxes will be as described above

GST
PST
Duty (if built outside of NAFTA). For example, a lagoon boat (built in France) can attract a duty of 15%
The new luxury tax if the boat is worth more than $250000 is 10%on the retail cost or 20% on the amount that exceeds the $250000

All those taxes are immediately due and payable on arrival in Canada. There is no grace period

No matter how you slice it, bring a boat to Canada is expensive. It’s best (and super cheap) to register it in Canada and keep it outside of the country.

Ehmm why’s that?? She doesn’t have to bring the boat to Canada once she can register for the boat and come back to Canada with the boat after the registration.

[sv_pelagia]

Originally Posted by Sailingallday

Do not bring the boat to Canada unless you want to just give money to the government. If you can, keep it in WA and go there to use it. Taxes will be as described above

GST
PST
Duty (if built outside of NAFTA). For example, a lagoon boat (built in France) can attract a duty of 15%
The new luxury tax if the boat is worth more than $250000 is 10%on the retail cost or 20% on the amount that exceeds the $250000

All those taxes are immediately due and payable on arrival in Canada. There is no grace period

No matter how you slice it, bring a boat to Canada is expensive. It’s best (and super cheap) to register it in Canada and keep it outside of the country.

Hopefully it is not subject to the luxury tax.

The suggestion to keep boat in the USA and thus not be able to sail in their home (British Columbia) waters (which are far more extensive, etc etc) seems way over the top... UNLESS the buyers intend to "sail south" with their boat in the next year or two.

[Maryscoty1]

Originally Posted by sv_pelagia

Hopefully it is not subject to the luxury tax.

The suggestion to keep boat in the USA and thus not be able to sail in their home (British Columbia) waters (which are far more extensive, etc etc) seems way over the top... UNLESS the buyers intend to "sail south" with their boat in the next year or two.

You're right, keeping the boat in the USA may not be ideal if you want to sail in British Columbia's extensive waters. It really depends on the buyer's plans and if they have intentions to sail south in the near future.

[Sailingallday]

Once it’s Canadian registered, all those taxes are due and payable if the boat comes to Canada. If it’s kept outside of Canada (as a Canadian registered boat) none of those taxes are required to be paid

[sv_pelagia]

Originally Posted by Sailingallday

Once it’s Canadian registered, all those taxes are due and payable if the boat comes to Canada. If it’s kept outside of Canada (as a Canadian registered boat) none of those taxes are required to be paid

Yes, but they then cannot bring the boat into Canada to sail BC waters...