Florida Tax Question

[CaspersCruiser]

I am considering two Florida cruises in my R27 in the upcoming months. The first is on the St. John’s River the third week of October. The second would be Ft. Myers to Cocoa over a couple weeks in February.

I live in Kentucky and will trailer the boat to Florida. I’d like to store the boat in Florida for the three months between cruises, but I don’t want to incur a Florida property or use tax liability. Are there any Tugnuts out there who have done something similar that can advise me on the particulars of storing an out-of-state boat in Florida for a few months?

 

[scross]

I found this on the Florida boaters website. Rules are somewhat similar to Washington state.
“Even if the boat is not initially taxable in Florida, however, the vessel will again become taxable at a rate of 6% of fair market value if the boat remains in Florida for 90 consecutive days or 183 days within a calendar year. These basic rules continue to apply.”
In your case 90 consecutive days would be the key factor. Perhaps short term dry storage in Georgia between your two trips?

 

[Connerkip]

Here’s a link that may be informative. Note the Florida tax is not on top of sales tax already paid to another state. If you already paid 6% or more than $18,000 dollars tax, Florida does not require additional sales tax. I believe they will still require registration.

That being said, I know of some who purposely register their boats in other states and keep them in florida Waters without having issues.

http://floridarevenue.com/Forms_library ... 800005.pdf

 

[knotflying]

This has been my experience. I bought my boat and registered it in Rhode Island, our summer home. The rule about sales tax applies to vessels bought in Florida and then transported out and then come back within six months of purchase. When I registered in FL I never had to pay a sales tax and RI has no sales tax on boats. Remember John Kerry and his boondoggle? There is another rule regarding registration. If the vessel is in Florida more that 90 days throughout the year ( does not have to be consecutive) you are required to get a sojourners registration. This means you register it and get the sticker, but no numbers. When I called the FL tax department to register there boat the person I spoke to did not even know the rule. She asked her manager and got back on the phone and then said I was correct. Then she said. " let me ask you a question. How do we know you were here"? I laughed and said that that was not my problem I just wanted to comply and figured that it was the price to pay for a great cruising area. Storing the boat in FL and then using it a few weeks here and there would fall under the category of: "How do we know you are here." :lol:

 

[CaspersCruiser]

I get the, “How do we know you are here?” aspect and that’s part of the question. For all I know, commercial storage operations may have reporting requirements to tax authorities about property in their care.

Locally, a bunch of aircraft owners got a shock and several years of back tax bills when regs were changed to require the local airport authority to supply to the tax assessor the names and addresses of aircraft owners who occupied hangars. These owners thought they had skirted property taxes by registering their aircraft with Delaware LLCs.

 

[scross]

I was told by the folks at Friday Harbor in WA that they were required to report all out of state boats with moorage over 30 days. Don't know how good marina compliance is to this requirement but the tax bill in WA for boats is $$$$!
We comply with the spirit and letter of the WA regulations to avoid tripping the tax bill in WA. Typically thats by heading to the Gulf Islands as quickly as we can!

 

[Scofflaw1]

I'm not sure when you originally purchased your boat, but if it was at least six months and one day prior to bringing into Florida and you paid tax on it in your home state, then you have no issue.

FAC 12A-1.007(2) - Purchases outside Florida The following rule should be helpful to your situation:

(2) Purchases Outside Florida.

(a) There shall be a presumption that any aircraft, boat, mobile home, motor vehicle, or other vehicle purchased in another state, territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia but titled, registered, or licensed in this state is taxable except as otherwise provided in subsection (26) of this rule. This presumption may be rebutted only by documentary evidence that the person owning the aircraft, boat, mobile home, or motor vehicle purchased the aircraft, boat, mobile home, or motor vehicle in another state, territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia six (6) months or more prior to the time it is brought into this state. In order for such property to be presumed exempt as purchased for use outside Florida, the person owning the aircraft, boat, mobile home, motor vehicle, or other vehicle must provide documentary proof that such property was used in other states, territories of the United States, or the District of Columbia for six months or longer under conditions which would lawfully give rise to the taxing jurisdiction of another state, territory, or District of Columbia and any lawfully imposed tax was paid to such state, territory, or District of Columbia before being imported into this state.


https://www.floridasalestax.com/florida ... 12a-1-007/