Titling Boat Outside of Washington State

[Wakadui]

Hello all,
Currently live, work, and boat in Oregon.
Looking to move to Washington state.
Reasons not to move to Washington include:
1) Washington's annual 0.5% excise tax on value of boat
2) One time sales tax on value of boat (approx 8%) upon transferring boat to Washington state.
Is it possible to live in Washington state, keep boat in Oregon, and maintain Oregon title and registration of the boat?
Todd

[tager]

Yes. You need an Oregon address. This may or may not be "tax evasion," depending upon what you say and to whom. I am pretty sure that you can maintain residency in multiple states. College kids do it.

[Ironhorse74]

Originally Posted by Wakadui

Hello all,
Currently live, work, and boat in Oregon.
Looking to move to Washington state.
Reasons not to move to Washington include:
1) Washington's annual 0.5% excise tax on value of boat
2) One time sales tax on value of boat (approx 8%) upon transferring boat to Washington state.
Is it possible to live in Washington state, keep boat in Oregon, and maintain Oregon title and registration of the boat?
Todd

I live in Vancouver, WA and I have heard that Washington has been pretty strict about titling in Oregon. Moving from Oregon to Washington will save you lot's of money on taxes. The .05% excise tax, won't make a dent in the savings.

If however you are bound a determined to keep it titled in Oregon, call one of the boat brokerages. There is an attorney in Oregon that specializes in it. The brokerage should be able to point you in the right direction.

Brad

[delmarrey]

If your in WA more then 60 days you're required to get a stay permit.

Originally Posted by WA-DOL

Visits longer than 60 days
If you’ll be on Washington waters for more than 60 days, you must apply for a permit on or before the 60th day of your visit.

To apply for a permit, visit any vehicle/boat licensing office and bring along:
Your unexpired state boat registration.
Identification from your state.

And I don't think you need to pay a sales tax if you have owned it for a certain period of time in your own state.

More answers here: WA State Licensing: Register a boat

[Kettlewell]

The short answer is the boat is taxed based on where it is located, not where you live or reside. Most states will grant you 60-90 days in their waters before taxes in the new state are due.

[Pblais]

And I don't think you need to pay a sales tax if you have owned it for a certain period of time in your own state.

Most states will give you credit if you paid tax in another state and it was less than you would owe in the new state. In that case they take the difference. Others don't care. Each state does what it likes so even though there are general patterns they don't follow the same. For a real fun time they also change quickly. You don't want to bet a large amount on a state never changing tax law - at least not in your favor. In tough economic times rich boat owners are basically - "good for it".

For the most part a boat that is not in the state that you live in is not a problem for you in your own state. It's mostly about where the boat resides - not you. In that case not residing in a state is no way to avoid taxes in the state where the boat is. People like to keep their boats in Delaware because there is no tax, but the punishment comes from being in Delaware - the boating mostly sucks.

[Ike]

Kettlewell had it right. A boat is required by federal law to be registered in the "state it is principally used" The following is from 33 CFR 173.

§ 173.15 Vessel number required.
top
(a) Except as provided in §173.17, no person may use a vessel to which this part applies unless:
(1) It has a number issued on a certificate of number by the issuing authority in the State in which the vessel is principally used;

So if you keep the boat in Oregon and use it in Oregon you're OK. However if you take it to Washington for more than 60 days then Washington will want their pound of flesh.

From the Washington Boating Website: boat.wa.gov - Register Your Boat

To navigate, operate, employ, or moor your vessel in Washington, you must have a Washington title, registration card, and registration decals, except:

If your vessel is a canoe, kayak, or a vessel not propelled by a motor or sail.
If your vessel is less than 16 feet in length and has a motor of 10 horsepower or less and is used on non-federal waters only.
If your vessel is properly registered by a resident of another state or country who uses Washington waters for 60 days or fewer.

[markpierce]

Wish California taxes were so low as compared to Washington State. Do you realize how fortunate you are without any gymnastics to avoid your state's taxes?

[JRO]

How about BC boats in Washington State waters? I'd like to winter my BC boat in WA... Bad or good idea?

[delmarrey]

Originally Posted by JRO

How about BC boats in Washington State waters? I'd like to winter my BC boat in WA... Bad or good idea?

I believe the same thing applies (in quote), but if you are going to be here too I think you'll need a visa. It would be best to call the D.O.L. to see what the real story is.

Visiting Washington State
Visits of 60 days or less
You don’t need a permit to be on Washington waters for up to 60 days, as long as your boat meets one of the following requirements:
It is currently registered in another state.
It has a current U.S. Coast Guard Documentation Paper.
Visits longer than 60 days
If you’ll be on Washington waters for more than 60 days, you must apply for a permit on or before the 60th day of your visit.

To apply for a permit, visit any vehicle/boat licensing office and bring along:
Your unexpired state boat registration.
Identification from your state.
You may renew the permit once for an additional 60 days. When the renewed permit expires, you must either register your boat in Washington State or remove your boat from Washington waters.

WA State Licensing: Register a boat

[Ike]

Actually this would involve far more than just the state of Washington. There are now a lot of rules for visiting yachts. See Noonsite: USA especially the section on documents.

What it amounts to is you would have to check in with customs and get a cruising permit.

[delmarrey]

If it's just the boat, I don't thing it's a big deal. Just as if it were here in a yard. But yeah, I contact customs.

1-360-332-8511 Blaine, WA

[bobconnie]

With Connie being a Travel nurse, we have been in a lot of states and so far have not had a problem with our Documented Vessel. Now most of our stays are 13 weeks, and then we leave and go some where else ! Now we spent 26 weeks in Washington State and they never said a word to us?? maybe theres a problem now we don't know but a lot of states give RNs working a short contract breaks they may not give to others! But I guess where ya go is more important then how long ya stay maybe???