The tax man cometh

[Old Skool Neil]

Texas Doesn't have the tax and I imagine I will have to register it in California as well now that they now where I'm at. Whats the reg. sticker fee ?

Don't take this info as gospel, it's from my California/Documented boat experience of 23 years ago.

There's no requirement to obtain State registration on a federally documented boat in California. The tax hammer you're experiencing right now is assessed by the County rather than the State. Now that you've been smoked out you should expect an annual tax bill from the County.

If you choose to register with the State, their fee is independent of the County tax and is based on value through a bizarre calculation of length and age. For example, the bi-annual fee for my 1984 Zodiac MkII Grand Raid is $20.00, the bi-annual fee for my 1977 Catalina 30 is also $20.00. Looks like at some point you reach their minimum.

 

[Stu Jackson]

pk, Neil's right. Don't bother registering the boat with the State. You're already documented. Take a look at some other boats on our dock - if they don't have CA stickers they're documented, like you - no state reg needed.

Alameda is famous for assessing the property tax. What's even worse is when you move your boat AWAY and they still try to nail you. They are a real pain.

I don't have our #s available, but as I recall the pt is about $500 a year.

 

[Old Skool Neil]

What's even worse is when you move your boat AWAY and they still try to nail you. They are a real pain.

If you're moving into or out of Los Angeles County (maybe others, I'm not sure), what determines which County is entitled to the tax is where your boat is normally kept on March 1 of the tax year (I think it's March 1). You could be in L.A. County March 1 and move to Orange County two weeks later for the rest of the year and L.A. would collect the tax. As Stu said, the following year L.A. County will automatically crank out another tax assessment and it's likely Orange County will pick you up on their tax rolls also, then the bureaucratic fun begins. It could take years to straighten it out.

 

[wonkodsane]

The only option is to move to MD. (-:

 

[Brian D]

Oceanside, I believe, charges property tax for the size of the slip, not the value of the boat. But I also believe the assessment is for the value of the water within the confines of the slip. Yeah, I think this is also lame, but that is one of the pit falls for having a hobby. I think I paid $88 for last year.

 

[txtowman]

It's always something

I guess I need to check on that before I buy a bigger boat. That is just what we all need more taxes so they can be spent on some of the most ridiculous things

 

[jackhartjr]

In NC the tax is computed for the county it is kept in.
If I was to moor it in Alexander County, (Which I will probably do) the rate is much lower than here in Catawba County.
Jack
And the tax aint' much, about $10.00 a year if I remember.

 

[dscribner]

I just paid my Maine tax. It KILLED me. $36.60. When will this end!!?!?!?

Don't get riled. Maine is top on the list for "most onerous taxes". Also, the 10 worst state tax systems were determined to be: 42) Massachusetts, 43) Oregon, 44) Vermont, 45) Iowa, 46) Maine, 47) New York, 48) California, 49) Minnesota, 50) New Jersey, and 51) the District of Columbia

So Baldacci beats Arnold hands down. He'll get the rest of my money later, while he's forcing out MORE businesses.

 

[Patrick17430]

Oh' you guy's are funny ! I just had to pony-up $860 to the tax man. Now they can buy another toilet seat for the office.