Boat Taxes in Washington

[Tip]

Just moved to Washington State, I like not having a state income tax but the sales tax is a real drag.

Before I bring my boat out here to Washington can someone give me an idea of how much tax I can expect to pay to get it registered?

I don't want to tow it all the way from North Carolina only to get shafted on a huge tax bill once I get it here.

Thanks,

Tip

[Tige22ityper]

Depends on the year and the value I believe. My 2002 runs me about $150-160/year, plus another $50 or so for the trailer.

[raythompson]

Think Washington is a drag....

I live in Tennessee, also without an income tax. However, the sales tax is 9.75% on everything, including food. That is a very repressive tax for the lower income people.

The good news is that I just registered my boat (05 22V) for three years and it was $56.00. There is also no registration required on the trailer.

The state will get into your pocket somehow. Enjoy the no income tax. And if you are close the Oregon border go there to buy things as Oregon has no sales tax.

[gman]

One way or another YOU WILL PAY. If not in license fees, then in property tax on the boat or some other tax. Its just shifting from one type of tax to another or calling it something else, but in the end you pay.

[switchme]

You will pay use tax on the value of the boat. Use tax is the same rate as sales tax. The rate depends on where you live but you will pay a lot ($2-4K depending on the value) I'd call the Department of Licensing to see what the value is.

[2kims]

Tip,
welcome to WA. I'm up in Battle Ground. Give us a call and we'll get you dialed into the area. The wx has been rotten but we'll start in a couple of weeks. Did you know that you can get the road tax back from each gallon of gas you buy for the boat or lawn mower, ect in WA? I'll give you the # to get that going.
Kim

[Tip]

Thanks for the info. Washington's sales tax is 8.1%, however I just moved from North Carolina where the sales tax is 7% and they still have state income tax.

I agree, one way or another they are going to get in your pocket. I'm just trying to do a little planning.

[Tip]

Thanks Kim. I'm living down in Vancouver for now, but will probably move up towards Battle Ground or Woodland once I get my family here later this year.

[Tip]

I just found out it's going to cost $3600 to register my boat...they valued my boat at $43,750 when I only paid $42,100 three years ago.

I think the state should be required to buy your boat for what they say its worth!

Between this and the price of gas it looks like the only boating I'm going to be doing this summer is in the driveway.

[mjirving]

Take a short move from Vancouver down here to Portland. You can take about 2 zeros of the end of your $3500 for registration. That'll buy a lot of gas for you. See you on the Willamette!

Mike

[b/w05]

Tip,

I looked on this web site and ran some of the #'s,,, should only be $300.00ish???? www.dol.wa.gov/boats.htm I agree with Irvine, move to Oregon, about $56.00 per year, renew every other year. Let us know when you get your boat here. Stayton Motorsports has a Tige' reunion at Detroit Lake the 1st weekend in August. Would like to see more Tige's there, he combines it with Crownline owners and I was way out numbered last year.


Mark

[raythompson]

Yeh, but then you get taxed out the whazoo for property taxes and what not. I lived in Oregon (15 miles east of Rogue River on East Evans Creek) on a 147 acre farm and we got some serious tax bills from the county and the state for everything. I think they even taxed the lug nuts on our tractors.

Local governments will get you one way or another. Sales tax, property tax, income tax and any combination thereof.

[Tip]

I will have the boat here around the middle of July, just in time for $5 a gallon gasoline!

According to the website I should not have to pay the use tax if I paid it to another state, which I did. However the sales tax in North Carolina is only 3% on boats so I will have to pay the difference. It looks like it's going to be around $2000 instead of $3600, that's better but still a lot of dough.

I'll put the Tige re-union on the calendar, sounds fun.

[Will5150]

Tip- welcome to Washington! There's some great boarding where you live- head east to Crecent Bar when you have a chance or Lincoln Rock out by Wenatchee. I lived there for 17 years and the water on the columbia is COLD, but oh so flat!! Taxes in Washington are actually about as low as you're ever going to see. They hammer you for sales tax, but property taxes are fair and there's no state income tax. I moved to Minneapolis in November- now that's a wake-up call. Minnesota's 3rd highest state in the country for taxes.

[Tip]

Thanks. I'm looking forward to getting back on the water, it has been a long winter.

I'm just going to have to get use to the cold water. Back in North Caroline some of the lake temperatures are already over 70 degrees and it's not even May yet.