buying a 45 ft cruiser

[wayneellis1234]

We are looking to buy a 45+ cruiser and planning to keep it in FL most of the winter months with some trips to Bahamas. We may come back to NY for summer months. We plan to document our boat and register it in FL. Understand that if you spend more than 90 days in FL you will have to register it anyways. Which is not a big expense. But how do we avoid paying taxes on the boat to either FL or NY? We have been looking to purchase in FL but what if you buy from a state that doesn't have sales tax? I have read if you don't pay taxes in a tax free state for 6 mths that you could be exempt. Is this possible? Any ideas would be appreciated!

[psk125]

Most states have determined that they want to tax boats that are in "their waters" for more than a specified amount of time. You say Florida is 90 days. New York's time allowance is buried too deep in verbiage to find easily online. In Connecticut it is 60 days. In Connecticut this is a use tax - a yearly amount that is not the sales tax. Marinas, harbormasters and Yacht Clubs are required to report the boats that are using their harbors and services. This allows the states to find out who's been around for the required amount of time, and start sending you bills. Could an unpaid bill result in your boat getting chained to the dock by a harbormaster? Not something I'd want to find out.