Wash. Use Tax-Boat Purchased in Canada

[Rustyf]

I have searched on line but cannot find the answer to this question.

If as a Washington resident I buy a boat in British Columbia but intend to license it in Seattle do I get a credit against the Washington use tax for sales tax paid in B.C. as I would if the boat was purchased in another state.

Many thanks.

[67Therapy]

I've dealt with these guys in Olympia before and recommend you definitely get the answer from the horse's mouth. The good news is that they are easy to get ahold of through the phone number on their website and will answer questions.

I suspect they will deduct taxes paid in another locality, they did this for me in a different scenario. However, use tax is a revenue stream they are going after with a vengeance, if they can find a way to collect more they will.

What's the tax in B.C.? Would it be better if the transaction occurred in Seattle?

Washington Use tax (the references are linked on the right side of the page)

WAC 458-20-178 para (12) Credit. When property purchased elsewhere is brought into this state for use or consumption the use tax will apply upon the use thereof, but a credit is allowed for the amount of sales or use tax paid by the user or its bailor or donor on such property to any other state or political subdivision thereof, the District of Columbia, or any foreign country, prior to the use of the property in this state.

Scott

Edit: 1st post! Took me two years before I saw something I could even *sorta* answer.

[Rustyf]

Thanks 67. That reference seems to settle the issue although as you suggest I will confirm with the authorities.

[67Therapy]

I was also thinking that you may not need to pay B.C. sales tax if you don't intend to use or register the boat in B.C.

[blt2ski]

You should not have to pay the ST up there, but would have to pay the seattle total of 9.5%. If you bought the boat in Cal. for an example, did ship here asap, then Cal's ST would be credited if you paid the Cal tax when you bought the boat. Not sure that there is a equal trade agreement for lack of better term between BC and Wa st.

If you are going to do this yourself, pm Dodenda who brought a CS36 down a year ago from BC to Edmonds. He had all the paperwork when he hit port roberts, said it took all of about 30 min, and he was on his way to Bellingham to have cobra charlie do some work on it.

Marty

[Liquorice]

If it's a private sale of a second hand boat between you and the current owner, there is no federal (GST) tax due in Canada and I don't think there is any sales tax due either. (I'm not sure about the sales tax, as we don't have any in Alberta)
sam :-)

[Faster]

BC does have HST still so you may run into that.. Rusty, suggest you send a PM to SNer djodenda... he did just that recently and will know the ins and outs.

[djodenda]

Rusty:

Thanks for the P.M. I am replying here with some of the same information I sent you for completeness:

Because of NAFTA, there is no duty to bring a boat built in U.S. or Canada back into the U.S. There's like a $30 fee or so. It took about an hour. No big deal. You will have to pay registration and Washington sales tax. Figure about 10% total

Everybody seems to want 3% extra to convert U.S. currency to Canadian. That was a last minute unhappy surprise. However, the escrow agent helped me do the transfer for a reasonable fee. That's not what they usually do, but they felt sorry for me and took care of it.

Here's the escrow agent I used:

Colette at:

MARINE TITLES (CANADA) LTD.
400 - 1681 Chestnut Street
Vancouver, B.C. V6J 4M6
Tel: (604) 736-3377
Fax: (604) 736-3072

Email: marinetitlesltd at telus dot net

She was great. I'd use them again...

Marine Titles performed the transfer in a way that there was no Canada or BC tax.

As Marty said, I had the title, bill of sale, and a release of the boat from Canadian registry (The escrow company handled this), and showed up at the Customs dock in Point Roberts and got on the phone. I paid them around $30 (They need exact change) and was out of there quickly.