Where can you register your boat?

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by denverd0n

The registration fee can only be that high if your boat is more than 65' in length. No offense, but if you can afford a 65' boat then you can afford $250 a year for the use of the many and various facilities around Florida.

NOT CROOKS!

Try living in New England. Boat registration in some states may be a tad cheaper but check out your annual real estate taxes and state income taxes. Makes Florida look like a huge bargain.

[savoir]

No boat taxes in Rhode Island.

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by savoir

No boat taxes in Rhode Island.

And registration is cheap as well.

[hsi88]

Does a boat have to be USCG documented to cruise the Bahamas?

[denverd0n]

Originally Posted by hsi88

Does a boat have to be USCG documented to cruise the Bahamas?

No. State registration will work throughout most of the Caribbean. (Yes, I know, The Bahamas are not technically in the Caribbean. So sue me!)

If you wander farther afield then you may run into countries that want to see official papers from your country, and not just from your state. If you are planning on staying very close to the U.S. then state registration is probably fine. Personally, my next boat will be USCG documented, just because who knows where I might want to go someday?

[Unwritten]

If you own a boat in the US you are required to either have it registered with a state or documented with the US Coast Guard. Any vessel 5 Gross tons (usually over 25')or more that is wholly owned by a US citizen or US business can be documented with the USCG. Documented vessels are given unique numbers that are displayed on the inside of the boat. A USCG Documented vessel is identified from the outside by the Name and hailing port.

If you travel to foreign waters, the Certificate of Documentation facilitates clearance with foreign governments and provides certain protection by the U.S. flag. Every country knows what the USA is, but not everyone knows what Wyoming is and why you are registered with them.

It may be easier to get a bank loan to finance your vessel if it is documented. The bank is interested in recording a “First Preferred Ships Mortgage” to perfect their lien. This document is enforceable throughout the U.S., its territories, and some foreign countries.

Most states allow boats registered in other states into their waters up to 90 days without obtaining their state registration, but check with the visiting state registration requirements.

No need for state registration numbers on the outside of your boat.

A documented boat is always documented. If you sell a documented vessel the new owner simply needs to update the documentation information. The documentation number will always stay the same.

I just completed my USCG documentation and I was all in for about $220. I also had to pay $155 for a three year NC registration since the boat is there for more than 90 days.

[thomm225]

In Virginia, registration for three years is $37.00 for a boat 20' long but less than 40'. $45.00 for boats 40' and longer.

[Larry Florida]

Originally Posted by savoir

Florida also has a fairly high use tax of 6% on recently purchased boats even if purchased out of state. The good news there is that you only pay once. If you arrive in Florida with NY registration you have 90 days to register and pay the tax. You can extend that time with a little messing around but sooner or later the tax man will get you.

I'm a Florida resident, spend summer in NY. Recently I purchased a boat in Connecticut that I am just about to register in NY, where it will be docked for the summer. I'll have to pay sales tax to NY when registering.

The plan is to take the boat to Florida next year for 6 months or maybe longer. Does Florida charge a 6% use tax on boats from another state??

If this were a car Florida does in fact charge a second sales tax payment. Florida charges sales tax on any vehicle the first time it is registered in Florida. Last year I paid sales tax on the book value of a 2000 Chevy Malibu I've owned for 15 years.

[denverd0n]

Originally Posted by Larry Florida

The plan is to take the boat to Florida next year for 6 months or maybe longer. Does Florida charge a 6% use tax on boats from another state??

If you have owned and used the boat in another state for more than 6 months, then you are exempt from the Florida sales/use tax. If you have paid tax in another state then your Florida sales/use tax is pro-rated against what you have paid elsewhere.

Note, however, that the "used" part is important. If the boat just sat waiting for 6 months to pass, if you cannot prove that you used the boat elsewhere, then Florida will want their share of sales/use tax.

[Larry Florida]

Originally Posted by denverd0n

If you have owned and used the boat in another state for more than 6 months, then you are exempt from the Florida sales/use tax. If you have paid tax in another state then your Florida sales/use tax is pro-rated against what you have paid elsewhere.

Note, however, that the "used" part is important. If the boat just sat waiting for 6 months to pass, if you cannot prove that you used the boat elsewhere, then Florida will want their share of sales/use tax.

Thanks

Can you confirm if this is true for a Florida resident? It is not clear on the myflorida.com page

[denverd0n]

This will take you to the summary document on sales/use tax:
http://dor.myflorida.com/dor/forms/current/gt800005.pdf

This will take you to the information on registration:
Official Website Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles

And this will take you to the specific state statute about sales/use tax:
Statutes & Constitution :View Statutes : Online Sunshine

In the statute you will see that it says:"(8)(a) Use tax will apply and be due on tangible personal property imported or caused to be imported into this state for use, consumption, distribution, or storage to be used or consumed in this state; provided, however, that, except as provided in paragraph (b), it shall be presumed that tangible personal property used in another state, territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia for 6 months or longer before being imported into this state was not purchased for use in this state. The rental or lease of tangible personal property which is used or stored in this state shall be taxable without regard to its prior use or tax paid on purchase outside this state."

No mention of this only applying to non-residents. Again, though, "used" is important! You cannot buy the boat, let it sit for 6 months, and then bring it to Florida. They are on to that, and they won't fall for it. If you cannot provide evidence of the boat's use elsewhere (dock receipts, fuel receipts, etc.) then they will conclude that it was bought for use in Florida, and the pro-rated tax will be due.