I seemed to have been getting the run around with the Illinois dept of Natural resources. They do not seem to know what I need to do. I called the USCG on the east coast and they are sending me a "Packet". While on the phone with them I asked what I need to do with the state of Illinois and they had no idea about state specific requirements. Do I just need to turn in my packet back to the USGC and wait for further instruction or do I still need to get involved with the state? I would have thought this process would have been more organized......I believe that I will not have a Illinois title per say because the USGC paperwork will take its place. Can anybody out there give me a rundown or a few pointers to look out for to make sure I get everything done right? I appreciate any assistance!

Go to a local, private licensing facility and they should be able to do all the paperwork for you for a nominal fee.

Its Illinois, what did you expect ?

As I understand it, coast guard registration allows the FEDS to go get your boat if stolen/taken to another country (unlikely they would chose to do so).....however, it does NOT release you from registering the boat with your local taxing authority. Running CG numbers alone on your boat might be legal but likely gets more attention from the local water patrol and they will want to see the sticker/paperwork showing you paid whatever taxes are required for where the boat is stored/taxed.

FWIW: I had boats registered in a corp name in another state. Even ran registration numbers for that state even though I had never been there. Still "illegal" but since I trailered the boat and stored it at home no taxing authority was aware the boat was a permanent resident of the state.

I would highly suggest going with a straight IL registration and running numbers. Any particular reason (other than not having to run stickers and numbers) for wanting to CG register? There is no sales tax advantage in IL with a CG registration.

http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/recreati...tionForms.aspx

Knot, I was recommended by a local title/registration company to register with the USCG. Saves me about 4k worth of taxes according to them....And they did mention once I have all my paperwork completed and approved by the USCG and the IDONR that they would get everything processed. As far as details they couldn't help until all paperwork is completed and approved. I feel I am in a stale mate. How long can I run on the previous owners numbers? He is good until 2014 on his Oklahoma sticker but I believe I only has a 30 day grace from the BOS....correct?

I thought IL did away with the CG registration tax advantages? I know when I brought my boat from MO to IL that my existing CG registration did nothing in terms of a tax break (this was in '07) and I had to pay the difference between MO's In Lieu flat tax and what the IL sales tax would have been on the purchase price of the boat new. I fought it at first but all that got me was penatlties and interest added. I just let my CG registration lapse because it did nothing for me. Might want to double check the tax liability on a CG registered boat in IL.

Here you go. If you bought from an individual out of state this is your tax liability. It states nothing about CG regisrtation in the exemption section.

http://tax.illinois.gov/businesses/t...watercraft.htm

Now, see this is what I am talking about. Not 1 person from the registration office, IDNR, or USGC even brought this to my attention. SO how I read this I am screwed either way due to the fact the boat is not a new retail purchase

Obviously Knot 4 me is right, USCG doc does nothing for tax reasons like it used to. It will take the place of your title, the USGC doc becomes the holding title, and when you sell the boat, it's easier for the next buyer to ensure there is a clean title -with the USCG only- when they search. I has USCG on a boat and did the IL numbers to reduce on-water hastle. You'll have to IL pay tax on a used boat value, but not the trailer value. I do forget if the DNR registration form asks for proof of tax, but they have found people not paying boat taxes pretty frequently.