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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

How much do you pay in yearly boat taxes?

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Gloss
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1916 Posts

Initially Posted - 03/17/2004 : 20:03:32

Hi folks.
First of all, I don't want to start a political discussion of taxes. We all have our own opinion of them.

The other day I was reading in the Boat US Magazine that South Carolina is going to start a new tax on boat ownership equal to about 10 percent of your appraised value.
Leon told me that if he buys an $8,000 trailer in California it will cost him about 2200 in taxes and fees to buy it. Youch.
When I bought my 89 wing in North Carolina, and Boat trailer in Florida last year, I had to pay Tennessee 9.25% in sales taxes to register them. At least I don't have to pay a yearly tax on them, just a 20 dollar or so boat registration fee. No big deal on that one.

So what do folks in other states have to pay on a yearly basis for the your boat ownership. This could be a big deal for those of us who are dreaming of retiring in about 15 years with maybe a Catalina 36 (some of us have big dreams)

Frank Gloss
Formerly 89WK/TR
85 Ericson 32-3 shoal draft "Molto Bene"

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Raskal
Navigator

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USA
162 Posts

Response Posted - 03/17/2004 : 21:14:13

In Connecticut we pay the 6% State sales tax on the purchase plus a fee based on length, which is $97 for a 25 footer. In subsequent years I pay only the $97 for renewal. Dinghies with motors are a special category (registration required for using the motor), a very reasonable $7.50 for motors under 15hp. Fees for other sizes (I'm reading from the chart) are $247.50 for a 40-footer and a maximum of $525 for 65 feet and larger.

I also have the Rhode Island chart. They break things down in various ways--it starts at $60 for a 25-footer plus $15 new registration fee plus $5 outboard registration plus $2 extra decal plus $5 title transfer...you get the idea, nickel-and-diming it...

Rich Kokoska

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oldsalt
Admiral

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USA
578 Posts

Response Posted - 03/17/2004 : 21:15:47

In New York we need to pay regular sales tax, 8.625% in order to obtain state registration and a nominal annual fee for registration.

Many folks document their vessels, or use out of state corporations to avoid the sales tax BUT the state regularly sends tax collection agents to the marinas to record the homeports and verify the length of stay. If they find that vessel is in New York waters beyond the legal limit which I believe is 6 months/year (I'm not certain of the permitted stay), they assess the owner with a New York State "use" tax which is equal to the sales tax.

Several years ago some local boat dealers conspired with buyers to help them avoid the sales tax and were caught. After paying hefty fines,in order to avod jail, time they rolled over and provided detailed lists to the state of all those customers they "helped, and the stuff hit the fan for the boat owners.

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ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 03/17/2004 : 21:22:05

Property tax on my boat doesn't include the value of the trailer, which is 'covered' by registration fees... the property tax rate (base + special districts) here is about 1.2%, so property tax on my $5K boat is about $70 per year.

I'm not sure why Leon calculates there will be $2200 in fees on an $8K trailer...

I live in California too and reckon the sales tax (7.5%)+ DMV fees should be around $800 (about 10%) for that amount. That's about the percentage I paid on my trailer when I bought the C25 last year. (but things could be different)

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Derek Crawford
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3321 Posts

Response Posted - 03/17/2004 : 21:33:18

In Texas I pay $40 registration fee which is good for 2 years. Sales tax on a boat when it's bought is 6%. I don't know about trailers...
Derek

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 03/17/2004 : 21:41:52

In Michigan, registration for a 25ft boat costs $115.00 every three years.

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Gloss
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1916 Posts

Response Posted - 03/18/2004 : 06:11:31

I just found my March Boat US magazine and it says that South Carolina's property tax on boats is a "10.5% annual personal property tax on the assessed value of their vessels"

So I guesse South Carolina is ruled out as a retirement location

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Mark Loyacano
Navigator

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USA
247 Posts

Response Posted - 03/18/2004 : 07:42:55

Kansas is so high I don't even dare give out the figure(s). I initiated a formal protest with our county assesor a couple years ago. They were pleasant, accepted all the data I could provide, then responded with a higher tax assesment. A nearby clerk from a different department overheard our conversation and commented from her cubicle about how nice it must be to own a boat.

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Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2980 Posts

Response Posted - 03/18/2004 : 08:02:05

Derek, ahhhh the tax man cometh.... he just hasn't found you yet. Texas boats now are assessed a personal property tax. I had to pay for the first time last year... to the tune of $340.

Also, Texas has picked up on what other states are doing and are requiring boats that are not transient to regisiter in Texas and pay current sales taxes minus sales taxes that can be proven paid and of course... the personal property tax.

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bear
Admiral

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USA
909 Posts

Response Posted - 03/18/2004 : 08:03:14

In New York we pay the going sales tax rate at time of purchase and then $36.00 plus a $10.00 surcharge for a three year registration. That is based upon a boat 16-25'. Then for my double axle trailrite trailer the registration fee is $43.00 a year which can be pro rated down by waiting till April-May to register. "Bear" on the soft-hard in upstate N.Y.

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Doug C.
Navigator

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USA
146 Posts

Response Posted - 03/18/2004 : 11:55:36

Sounds like I've got it good in Arizona. I bought Valkyrie from a private party 2 years ago, paid no sales tax. Registration fee was $25 for the boat and I got a permanent trailer tag for a 1 time $50 fee. No property taxes on boats yet. Of course we don't have any water either, but that's another issue.

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John Mason
Admiral

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USA
687 Posts

Response Posted - 03/18/2004 : 11:58:03

In Washington, I paid the equivalent of a sales tax (bought the boat in Oregon) when transferring the title, somewhere around 8.9%. Then license tabs every year, about $40 for the boat, $36 for the trailer.

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cathluk
Admiral

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USA
513 Posts

Response Posted - 03/18/2004 : 13:08:49

In Virginia we pay 4.5% sales tax plus annual personal property tax (rates vary by county) & a minimal registration fee to the Game & Fisheries every 2 years. If you have a dinghy with a motor that must be registered too. Trailers are taxed by county also & need to be registered with the DMV.

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Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 03/18/2004 : 14:03:43

Last I checked, in Ohio we have to pay sales tax (city plus state is 8% in Cuyahoga county) and 45 bucks every three years for registration. No personal property tax.

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OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 03/18/2004 : 15:47:52

I hope no legislators from the great state of Pennsylvania read this thread . . . $42 every other year for the boat and $12/year for trailer registration.

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Ed Montague
Captain

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USA
499 Posts

Response Posted - 03/18/2004 : 16:15:23

I'm with OJ on the 'No Legislators'. California boat registration for Yahoo is $10 for two years. The trailer is the same. Property tax is $43 per year and goes down a buck or two a year as the boat gets older. Another reason to stay with the older boat.

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ppetracca
Navigator

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USA
163 Posts

Response Posted - 03/18/2004 : 16:22:42

In New Mexico, when you buy a boat you pay 5% of the purchase price luxury tax when you title it, plus a $10.00 title fee. Incidentally, the trailer is only assessed 3% tax, same as a motor vehicle including RV's. Figure that one out. Boats are luxuries, RV's are vehicles. Anyway, then we pay, I think, $36.00 for two year boat registration and the trailer registration is around $30.00 for two years.

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Shelby
Navigator

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USA
155 Posts

Response Posted - 03/18/2004 : 16:34:07

Here in AZ on my '82 I pay $4.00 registration, and license tax of 12.86 for grand total of 16.86. No bad.

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