[kellysails]

We are going to move our boat from WA to FL in 18 or so months. We will keep our boat in FL on the hard during hurricane season(s) and cruise the Bahamas / Keys during cruising season(s). Eventually we will cast off lines permanently for the Caribbean after a few years. It is highly unlikely that we will return the boat to WA.

We are looking forward to registering our boat in FL as the annual fees are 20% of WA's.

Questions
1. Will I have to change the homeport of the vessel to a FL location?

2. If so, will the data for my USCG documentation change?

3. Also, will the data have to change for my US Customs Decal?

As I type this the questions seem a bit stupid. I assume the answer is yes to all three but I just want to make sure.

Thanks!

 

[svHyLyte]

We are going to move our boat from WA to FL in 18 or so months. We will keep our boat in FL on the hard during hurricane season(s) and cruise the Bahamas / Keys during cruising season(s). Eventually we will cast off lines permanently for the Caribbean after a few years. It is highly unlikely that we will return the boat to WA.

We are looking forward to registering our boat in FL as the annual fees are 20% of WA's.

Questions
1. Will I have to change the homeport of the vessel to a FL location? Not required by the Coast Guard, but it might be wise to avoid issues with Washington State authorities if they are anything akin to the authorities in California.

2. If so, will the data for my USCG documentation change? Your documentation will only change to the extent you elect to change your "home port" or in the event your home address is changed.

3. Also, will the data have to change for my US Customs Decal? You will have to update your Decal registration with your yacht registration information for Florida. Likewise, your home address when/if that is changed.

As I type this the questions seem a bit stupid. Not at all. I assume the answer is yes to all three but I just want to make sure.

Thanks!

See interlineations in blue, above.

 

[eherlihy]

I believe that the home port is wherever the owner wants it to be... This has no bearing on where the boat is actually kept.

I have seen many boats with home ports that have no access to the ocean (Salt Lake City), and in one case, water (a completely landlocked town in MA), yet they were plying the waters off the coast of Massachusetts...

Also, if you bring your boat to Florida for (IIRC) more than 90 days (might be 30...), you will have to register in Florida, and pay Florida taxes, or prove that they have been paid elsewhere.

 

[svHyLyte]

....

Also, if you bring your boat to Florida for (IIRC) more than 90 days (might be 30...), you will have to register in Florida, and pay Florida taxes, or prove that they have been paid elsewhere.

It is 90 days and the tax issue only comes up if the yacht was not previously registered in another venue or the date of the title is less than a year or so old. When we re-registered our formerly California registered boat in Florida, the issue of tax never came up in Florida (although California kept sending us threatening letters for not paying personal property tax in California for several years after we had quit the place once and for all).

FWIW...

 

[RichH]

You can homeport the boat anywhere in the USA you want.
You will/should have to change the boat's 'administrational address' on its documentation so you get prompt documentation renewals, etc.

Washington state has a much higher sales tax than Florida, so you will not have to pay Florida any sales tax differential .. although there might be a 'transfer fee' - not sure.
You will need hard copy documentary evidence of taxes paid to Washington.

Florida Boating Information - Government Affairs - BoatUS

 

[smurphny]

I did this a couple of years ago NY to FL. There is really no hassle. In Clay County, it can be accomplished on line. I guess that depends on the particular county. You just need to prove initially that sales tax has been paid. A copy of my canceled check to NYS Sales Tax sufficed as proof. Documentation/hailing port can stay the same. You get a FL sticker to display and do not need to put FL numbers on a documented vessel.

 

[hellosailor]

If you don't change the home port to Florida, Washington may come after you for taxes. They'll pick it up from the documentation lists, annually, and say the WA homeport is presumption that the boat still should be taxes in WA. They're not alone or unreasonable in doing that.

Best to keep all the paperwork uniform. And of course, your insurer will want some money about be upset about hurricane season.

 

[Minnewaska]

If you don't change the home port to Florida, Washington may come after you for taxes........

I thought they triggered off your mailing address, not your homeport.

As mentioned, you can use Death Valley as your homeport. Presumably you live at your mailing address and might have incurred sales/use taxes or require registration there. Not necessarily true, but I think that the list they're culling through.

Good advice to keep everything documented, including all marina contracts and cancelled checks, if you are indeed out of state.

 

[kellysails]

Thank you for the great info! I need to make some decisions but the options are clear cut.

 

[Uricanejack]

Bought my boat in Oregon, Kept it in Washington, Paid the 60 bucks for the decal nobody has ever mentioned tax. although I did get a registration fee request in the mail a few weeks ago.
Boats in BC now paid BC tax when I crossed.
I don't see why there would be any issue moving your boat to Florida. You would no longer need the Washington decal. You might need one for Florida If they have decals.

 

[Minnewaska]

Bought my boat in Oregon, Kept it in Washington, Paid the 60 bucks for the decal nobody has ever mentioned tax. .....

Having someone mention it, isn't really how it works. Some states have a system whereby they collect sales/use tax upon registration, some do not. Washington most certainly has a use tax. It runs 7% to 10% of purchase price, depending on locality.

When you registered in Washington, you entered the system and they'll undoubtedly put their hand out. Most states I've dealt with in New England, take a few years before the bill arrives with penalties and interest. In my case, however, tax was not due, as they keyed off an address that was not where the boat was located.

Use tax is due if:

Goods are purchased in another state that does not have a sales tax or a state with a sales tax lower than Washington's. For example, items you purchase in Oregon that are used in Washington are subject to use tax.

Use tax