I'm moving my boat from NJ to MD, and have just applied for my new MD registration. The lady from the DNR calls and says that since I only paid 3% sales tax on it (bought it in a Urban Economic Zone where tax was half of normal for NJ), now I have to pay MD (5% sales tax) the other 2%! This amounts to about $4500. YIPES!

After some discussion, she agrees that, well, it IS a two-year-old boat, so maybe we should check the listed value in the BUC book. CRIPES! They list the boat as being worth $70K MORE than I paid for it. I told her that I'd make her a deal and sell to her for only $20k less than the BUC price. (She didn't go for it.) Then she opens the NADA book, and comes up with a number like $197K. Well, that's a little more like it, but I'm still gonna owe $3100.

The hull has a 2001 serial number, but I bought it in May, 2000, so we check the NADA book again for 2000 models, and come up with $165K. At that rate, I will owe MD a little less than $1500. (Apparently, this is a bargain.)

OK - WTF?! All I wanted to do was move to a different cruising area.........<sobbing uncontrollably>

You said you are moving the boat to MD. The question is are you going to live there also??? Let me know I maybe able to help.

Doug

Nope, still gonna live in PA. However, there is such a thing as "Principle use", which can be interpreted in several different ways..... (Is that what you're thinking?)

Call me @ 443-871-6907 in about 10 mins. or when ever you get a chance..
Doug

Wait a second here! If you originally paid more than 5%, would MD give you back the balance?! Isn't sales tax for when you buy, and property tax for what you already own? Why is MD trying to charge sales tax on a two year old boat (other than the obvious)?

Sonds like you need a bottle of vaseline

I am with Chart, how can they charge you 2 seperate times for sales tax??

Sales Tax is for just that, when something is sold.
Not when something is moved from one state to another.

I know way to many states charge PROPERTY Tax. Ican see this coming into play. Which really sucks.

But no way in hell would I pay sales tax twice.
Leave it in your home state and be done with it.

MD is full of a bunch of overtaxing, tree hugging, gun grabbing libs that will use any excuse they can to get in your back pocket
Up until recently they would have wanted the whole 5% of the value of the boat to get registered-even if you just paid tax in another state

And then they send the water cops around to marinas to see if you have out of state registration and stay there too long-the you get a fine on top of the taxes.

Some things about this place really SUCK!!!!!

But at least we got no damn manatees

Since I live in PA, I am moving the boat from NJ to MD for an indeterminate amount of time (I have discussed this with the marina, so there is a record), I will use the boat in NJ, DL, PA, MD and VA, and may then relocate the boat to FL for the winter - I am having trouble figuring out which state REALLY is my "State of principle use". Therefore, in the interest of not cheating anyone, I am simply going to renew my NJ registration until I figure out what my plans are.

Done.