They make it hard to comply with the law

[knotflying]

An interesting situation; being that we will be staying in Florida this winter longer than 90 days the law requires registering your vessel. Being a good citizen I am trying to comply. So far I have called three tax offices, the first one told me they did not know about that rule and commented, how can we catch you anyway. The second one told me I would have to title the boat in Florida, DUH??? The third one seemed to get it right after she looked up the law. I have sent in the form, which asks for a Florida address. I left the Florida address blank since we will be cruising and will have no permanent/temporary address. If you are getting this thing because you are a transient traveling in their state for more than 90 days why would they ask for a permanent Florida address? We shall see what happens. I love it when municipalities make rules, but the people who are supposed to execute them don’t have a clue as what to do.

 

[SUWANNEE]

Welcome to the Land of Palm Trees and public servants both elected and simply cloned, who know nothing or very little.

We elected to document "Little Tug Boots". When we called the local tax office to inquire about the process,forms , timelines and of course FEES, it really started. we were told that no matter "what country the boat was from we had to have the little letters and numbers up on the boat and pay the taxes. NO MATTER WHAT.

Needless to say, we had paid ALL of the required taxes upon purchase!!!

Trying to explain the law and the process and that we actually did live in the US of A, didn't help at all. understand that we are in a county where the only water is swamps and rivers, so a trailerable boat that is USCG Documented is a rarity at best.
So i called the next county over [a larger one] with pretty much the same results.

So i called the folks who handled the documentation in central FL - I'm in NORTH Fl. and she sent me all of the paperwork and I took it to my tax office , all nicely completed and then had to endure an hour's fun time while they looked up the forms and called the State capital to obtain assistance.

But the Waters here are GREAT>>>>>

 

[abcandjrc]

You will be the 4th person to comply.

Unlike Florida's "Intangible Personal Property Tax", which had at least 15 filers over the years, they haven't repealed this stupid bit of work by the "humble and obedient servants" in the state legislature.

We spent 6 months in Panama City one winter, and several years we spent 8 or 9 months in Titusville. Each time when we enquired of the water safety folks they said "Forget it!". Our boats were both documented and carried no state numbers but did have our Alabama annual renewal sticker displayed.

But now the tax folks know that you know....... 🙁

There was a water safety outlaw, partnered with a disreputable judge, in Demopolis, Alabama, for a few years (maybe still, so be cautious). Demopolis is on the Tenn-Tom and hundreds of boats make the round trip north and south every year. He would ticket as many documented boats as he could find for not carrying state numbers. Most folks just paid up since they wanted to be elsewhere the next day. Those who took it to court without a lawyer, were always charged court costs plus the value of the ticket. Those who took a lawyer came out with no fines or costs, but obviously lost time and money anyway. Sad.

Wait until they catch you with a fish, which you caught 25 miles offshore or even in a state where you have a valid salt-water license, and with fishing tackle on board in Florida (or Alabama or Louisiana) waters. There is a "presumption of guilt" clause in the fishing law which makes you guilty of fishing in Florida without a license! And if you have a license but a spouse does not, and there are two rods on board, one of you is guilty of fishing without a licnse. Why do we let them do it to us?

 

[SlackwaterJack]

Are you sure that law applies to you? Given the HUGE population of boats and owner's there from other states and countries, and the complete lack of knowledge at the local tax office as to your needs, I'd say it applies to Forida residents buying boats out of state and then bringing them into Florida fulltime or folks permanently re-locating to Florida from non-sales tax states. I'm almost positive that you certainly didn't need to pay the sales tax again but maybe just re-register the boat (your tow vehicle would also fall into this too then).
You may have declared that you are now a Florida resident with no-fixed-address and that could cause trouble back home...voter registration, out of state (non resident) property tax rates, your driver's license, even Federal and state income tax changes.
Sounds like other laws passed by all states (with sales taxes) to keep their residents from registering cars, boats, RV's, and mega yachts in non-tax places (Delaware, Oregon) or even the Bahamas, then bringing them into their HOME state on a permanent basis (remember John Kerry's Delaware Yacht Deal?).

Just to further complicate things....there's the same requirements for cars,trucks and motorhomes too...You'll also need to get a Florida driver's license within 90 days. The request for a permanent Florida address is the first clue here...the lack of boats with multiple numbers and state stickers on their bows is another.

 

[abcandjrc]

It sounds like they are more concerned with knowing you are there and may try to sneak in permanently rather than making you re-register. Maybe that is why the water safety folks always told us to forget about it. These comments do not indicate whether or not you are required to pay a fee (or post a bond?) to be legal.

Another option would be to break the 90 days by leaving the state for a day. Works in The Bahamas for their "less than a year" visitor's permit. It would depend on how convenient that might be. You probably have to make landfall in Georgia or Alabama or perhaps in The Bahamas (highly recommended if you are up to the trip in a 27) rather than just entering International Waters and returning. Perhaps even terminate then reinstate your marina contract if you will be located in only one location.

I found this:

http://www.flhsmv.gov/dmv/faqboat.html

which contains this:

I will be vacationing in Florida this summer. Do I need to register my vessel there?

Florida recognizes valid registration certificates and numbers issued to visiting boaters for a period of 90 days. An owner who intends to use his vessel in Florida longer than 90 days must register it with a county tax collector. However, he may retain the out-of-state registration number if he plans to return to his home state within a reasonable period of time.

and this which is a bit of an expansion on the text:

http://taxbooks.mioinc1.com/Manatee/pg39-47.pdf

which contains this:

Boats Registered in Another State Visiting Florida
Florida recognizes valid registration certificates and numbers issued to visiting boat owners
by other states for a period of 90 days. An owner who intends to use his boat in Florida
longer than 90 days must register it with a county tax collector. However, he may retain
the out-of-state registration number if he plans to return to his home state within a
reasonable period of time. The out-of-state boat owner who plans to remain permanently
in Florida must so advise the county tax collector. The boat owner will receive a Florida
registration certificate number to replace those issued by the state of former residence.
The out-of-state registration and certificate of title, if issued, must be surrendered to the
tax collector.

 

[SUWANNEE]

The law was originally written to stop all of you wealthy out of staters from from buying your Million dollar boats in North Alabama and then sneaking back into Fl and avoiding all of the Fl taxes and FEES.

But like so many "well intentioned " laws once in the hands of the legislators and then the enforcement departments it all became as clear as Mother's Mulligan stew.

But please don't let a little thing like not knowing what to do stop you from visiting our beautiful waters 😉

 

[abcandjrc]

The law was originally written to stop all of you wealthy out of staters from from buying your Million dollar boats in North Alabama and then sneaking back into Fl and avoiding all of the Fl taxes and FEES.......

And check out all those million dollar RVs with Montana tags. There are Rent-an-Address shops out there in case you are interested.

I was really confused when I went shopping for something in Montana and found out there is no state sales tax. But if I buy a 6-pack of Pepsi in Pensacola I am supposed to report it on my Alabama income tax return. And that is not a joke. It is the law. Well, I guess that makes it a joke. On us. (I think 12 people have filled in that line, since our tax guys are tough as nails.)

 

[SUWANNEE]

FYI-- Please remember Florida has no income tax. 😎

So they TAX and FEE everything else.

No tax or fee yet on breathing but we are holding our breath on that one.

 

[Todd]

NY has the same 90 day law. You can keep your Coast Guard documentation and not have to put numbers on the boat, if documented, but have to have their registration sticker. And it get worse. If I by a T-shirt while vacationing in another state that does not have a sales tax, or has a lower tax, and plan to wear it in NY, I am supposed to print out some long form from their web site, fill it out and send it to them with the sales tax.

Why do they continue to make laws that can not be enforced but make criminals out of everyone.

Anyone ever read Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand?