Flying a Canadian flag w/o paying the taxes?

[Newport41]

This was the beauty of buying a Canadain designed/American built boat, and bringing it north across the border. Thank you NAFTA. It's nice to have a trade agreement with your neighbours. I doubt flying an American flag will cause you problems. Besides, if you're flying the stars and stripes everyone will assume you're armed . Especially in the South Pacific, nobody down there will harm you, regardless of the colours you're flying. I've seen Canadian flags on backpacks in europe that didn't belong to Canadians, that's a bit much. It's unfortunate that people still are so narrow minded. I strongly disagree with a lot of American policy, and there are aspects of American culture (media in particular) that scare the crap out of me. However, almost every American I've met has been generous, unassuming, kind, and good natured. It's too bad a handful of extremists in america can give you as bad a name as a handful of extreminst is the middle east.

[Architeuthis]

We bought our boat in the States and where told we could not register it until it is imported. I was also told I cannot import it until I've paid tax on it, I can't pay tax on it until it is imported and value determined and I can not import it until it is actually in Canada. Basically I'd have to sail it into a Canadian port and declare it. If they do not want my money until then that was OK with me so i did not look into it any further.

But apparently others have registered boats that have never been in Canadian waters so I would suggest trying it. If you get a different person to deal with it might not be a problem at all.

I found the same thing when bringing in a U.S. car into Canada. There are the rules and then there is how it is actually done on that day.

As for flying the flag, the Boat is not a U.S. registered boat, you are not a U.S. citizen, I think you would just be asking for issues trying to pretend to be anything other than a Canadian boat. At least one USGC guy pointed that out to me when I asked.

Re: healthcare...those lucky enough to have survived credit the great Canadian healthcare system, just as those carrying a rabbits foot think it is lucky. More objective measurements suggest we could look at 30 or 40 other countries to see how to do it better. I think my mom was lucky as they made a lot of mistakes dealing with her cancer and my Dad almost died from the infections he got the last time he was in the hospital. Can't say I've had a really good experience with the system since 1970.

[SCUBACrunch]

Originally Posted by idealflaw

Didn't know you were never even going to canada. Can't you just label it and fly a canadian flag as such? People do that a lot up here in Puget Sound as there are a lot of Canadians living in the area.

From what I've been told - and my experience delivering a 43' Morgan from Panama to Hawaii - we will have difficulty entering countries if our documentation doesn't match the boat. As you said, anyone can change a name, but do we want to push a non-issue if there is a simple way to do it right ...and be safe?

We plan on being in the South Pacific for at least 15 years. We also realize that we will have to keep up our Canadian registration every (what did that guy just write) 5 years? Cake!

But the oddest piece of all this is, we may never come back. We may apply for citizenship in Fiji .....or Borneo, .......or we could die happily underway at sea. We have both faced death, so everything else is a party, ...an opportunity, .....an adventure! And seeking out useful information as I am doing here is 3/4 of being prepared; The rest ...comes from experience.

You see, I believe I created cancer from accrued long-standing resentment. I created cancer because I did compromise myself and my ethics, not from nativity, but from obstinance. I have since learned to be different.

Moreover, I will never go back. I'll pay the $32K if I have to, and as such, I WILL live a long and happy life, and NOT because I avoided my ethical obligation. You see, this obligation is not to my government; it is an obligation to myself ....to live 'clean'; ...to create ...without compromise.

But enough about that.

Thanks to all for your sagacious wisdom. We truly appreciate it.

[Gramp34]

To cut to the chase, go to Transport Canada's Registry site for instructions.

You don't need to bring the vessel to Canada. In fact, they provide a list of Tonnage Measurers in the U.S. and other countries.

You don't import, so you don't pay sales tax or duty.

Tim

[Architeuthis]

Originally Posted by Gramp34

To cut to the chase, go to Transport Canada's Registry site for instructions.

If only it was that easy. It should be, why wouldn't it be? But as I found out with the car it really doesn't matter what the rules are. It only matters what that person behind the counter thinks they are.

Knowing the rules delayed registration of the car by almost 2 weeks. If I had just let them decide what the rules were on that day it would have taken 15mins, with the same basic result. Knowing is good but do not admit it. LOL

[lynn1120]

"Can I just do the Canadian registry and pay WA state taxes to keep her here? I'm okay with paying 8.4% in WA State as long as I can still fly a Canadian flag. "

I just imported a boat into Cda, I realize that is not what you want to do-- But I think my tax was only 5% gst and 5% pst--so if you have to, pick the import province carefully, mind you it is impossible to sail west from Sask! LOL

My point is that the only place I got straight answers was from a import/export broker-- you might have to pay $270 and they will handle all the paper work, best money I ever spent and cheaper than a lawyer.

[canadianseamonkey]

Crunch - do you have pictures or a link to this boat you are buying? I'd love to see it.

[jimsachs]

Why not Ask one of our former prime ministers (Paul Martine) on the best way to avoid taxes on ships/boats. As owner of Canada Steamship lines, I believe not a single vessel is regsistered in Canada I would bet that Canadian Steamship lines have also avoided paying GST, PST, and Canadian Income taxes. I am sure he proudly flies the Canadian Flags on all their ships if they sail in Canadian waters on international waters. By the way, Paul Martin also avoided using Doctors in the Canadian health care system....

[Vasco]

Originally Posted by Gramp34

To cut to the chase, go to Transport Canada's Registry site for instructions.

You don't need to bring the vessel to Canada. In fact, they provide a list of Tonnage Measurers in the U.S. and other countries.

You don't import, so you don't pay sales tax or duty.

Tim

Good advice. One problem with these sites is that along with the good advice you get a lot of comments from those who have no idea how wrong they are. Canadian registration for a boat that is not or will not be in Canada is fairly simple. Just follow the instructions on the site. If the boat is under 12 metres in length you don't even need a tonnage survey. I know, I did it, and if you don't bring the boat into Canada you don't have to pay PST or GST.