www.iFourWinns.com

Thanks for all the replies. I'll give you another reason to be thankful for where you live, or at least that you don't live here.

The State of Kansas (which, by the way, has a lot to like about it believe it or not), levies a personal property tax on my 8 year old boat of $940 a year. Every year. In a state where boats get used 3, maybe 4 months out of the year. That doesn't include $24/year for trailer tag and $35 every 3 years for boat registration, nor sales tax at purchase time. The tax is deductible of course, but it's just stupid.

I'm very close to making the decision to move the boat down to Table Rock full-time and re-register in Missouri. I spoke with the assessor for the county where I would most likely store it (TR covers 3 counties). They estimated the annual property taxes at $275. We've always kept it in Kansas because there's a much closer (but far less desirable) lake that's good for day trips, but I've had it with the tax situation and I'm getting tired of towing such long distances.

Supposedly the watercraft property tax in KS is tied to something in the state constitution. In our last state election, we voted to enable the legislature to modify the constitution specifically so that watercraft property taxes could be adjusted. But that's many steps and probably many years from actually getting done.

It will be very strange having the boat 4 hours away and there are some big logistical issues to work out. But I think it's time. Since this may turn out to be a non-boating year for us, there won't be a lot of time pressure to get it done.

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

No yearly tax on the boat here in Ontario. (Only) 13% sales tax at the time of purchase. They get us up here with crazy income tax instead. Oh and lets not forget my favorite tax, a full 13% sales tax on used vehicles, paid at the time you register it in your name! Paying tax on a vehicle that has been taxed, possibly multiple times before, a full 13%!!! Drives me nuts....

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2009 H180 w/3.0 Merc
Homebuilt Minimax Hydro
2011 Zodiac Cadet 310

We paid a 6.25% tax on the boat when purchased, same on the trailer. Then $150 for 3 year state registration (even though we're documented). Trailer plates cost $270 a year (to tow it maybe 4 times a year depending on how many trips away from our lake we take).. We do get to write off the interest though on it, because we can claim it as a second home, at least for now, they're trying desperately to take that away from us...

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2004 Four Winns 328 Vista
1997 Larson Cabrio 290 - sold
1988 Rinker Fiesta Vee 248 - sold

I guess living in Arkansas we have it good. Sales tax is 6%. We do have personal property taxes and I paid not quite $600 last year, but that was for the boat, trailer and 3 vehicles. We pay $42 to register the trailer but its a one time fee as the trailer is issued a permanent tag, and boat registration is a whopping $15 every 3 years

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2008 FW F204 - 5.0 VP "Stand On It"
Former Boat: Larson 186 LXI - 4.3 VP

Florida has s 6% sales tax plus the county discretionary tax (usually up to 1% on the first $5k). On a used boat, you pay the sales tax to register and just tell them the amount the sale and they charge the sales tax at the initial registration. Dealers handle it internally when you buy new/used from them.

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2010 Sea Hunt Triton 220 "Big Whiskey"
2003 FW Freedom 180 Volvo Penta 4.3GL/SX-M "It'll Do Four Now" (Sold)
2012 Avalanche LTZ 4X4

I live on the Missouri side of KC in Jackson County and in one of the suburbs of KC that has the highest tax rate in all of Missouri due to the school district I live in. Luckily, I also have my lake house (and boat stored) two hours away in one of the very poorest counties in MO. Luckily, the State of MO allows you to pay the property tax in the county where your watercraft is stored/used rather than your primary residence. So I pay property tax in Hickory County, MO instead of Jackson County, MO and save several hundred dollars per year.

230Mike, get your boat to Taney County ASAP!!!!!! The hundreds of dollars you save will be used for gas to get to/from TRL, BUT you'll get to TRL much more often and that will increase happiness. DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Paul
2007 Four Winns Horizon 220
Mercruiser 350 Mag MPI w/ Bravo III Drive
2004 Ford Explorer Limited (V8-AWD)
Pomme de Terre Lake (Southwest Missouri)

Thanks Paul, actually it will be Stone County (Kimberling City) but am still working on finding the right place for storage. Fortunately my neighbor across the street bought a place there last year so I've got a scout lined up.

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

+1. I only pay these. There are no other property taxes besides estate here in Ohio. Now, for that we are around $5000! But, that all depends on the school district.

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2006 Vista 278
First Boat:
2005 Sundowner 205
Columbus, OH

Interesting Tax source comparison between the US States:
http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/89702927.html

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"Knot Easy" 2000 Horizon 240 Volvo 5.7GS /SX
tow: 2017 Honda PILOT EXL-AWD
prev. boats:
'87 Chaparral 198CXL 4.3 OMC Cobra
'69 Jetstar 16ft Ski Boat, 115hp Yamaha
'68 Aluminum Jon Boat, 3hp Sears
'64 Water Wings

Nice link. KS taxes are probably better than many overall, but they're just completely whacked out on watercraft for some reason. When we bought this boat, the (KS) dealer said, "You aren't really going to register this in Kansas are you? You'll get ripped on the taxes." We did register it here at the time because that's where we've used it the most. But changes in our family situation are lining up timing-wise with my loss of tolerance for such ridiculousness. So I think it's time for a change.

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

That is going to get old real quick. Where would you sleep?

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Current Boat: 2000 Four Winns 298 Vista
Previous Boat: 2000 Carver 406MY

There are several options depending on how long I'll be there. For a weekend, probably small nearby hotels. For longer trips, there are lots of condos for rent.

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

Chris, you'd better hope our new self professed lesbian premier doesn't see your post. If she does, we will be the highest taxed boaters in the world. OOPS, I heard Dolton McGuilty is a boater,,,,he might see it too.

John

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07 Azure AZ200,
Previous boat,
95 278 Vista,
And a lot of others.

Ontario, Canada

Guess I got it good here in Alberta Canada. Private boats are not taxed as property in Canada (just big income tax on the money you earned to buy it). All pleasurecraft are required to licensed (Federally) at no cost to the owner. The license is valid for ten years and renewal is free (so far). Sales tax in Alberta is 5% (federal GST) with no added provincial tax. This is considered a one-time tax so if a person buys a used boat in private sale, (as I did) it is not necessary to pay the tax. Buying a used boat from a dealer will likely require payment of GST or HST on the purchase price, since the dealer accepted the boat on trade and charged tax on the price difference. Alberta issues permanent trailer plates for a one-time fee of $100.00. Private vehicles are not taxed, and registration is about $60.00 per year. All navigable water in Canada is under Federal control and aside from some prohibitions and restrictions, I can launch my boat in any lake in the country without the need to pay fees for use of the water. I suppose this helps make up for a relatively short boating season.

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2001 Horizon 180LE 4.3 VP SX
2008 GMC 1500 6.0L Z71

You are right John... I had better shut my yap, or we will be bending over for another tax grab!

No provincial tax in Alberta waterboy? That's almost enough to make me want to move there.... Almost....

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2009 H180 w/3.0 Merc
Homebuilt Minimax Hydro
2011 Zodiac Cadet 310