Wow! I just found the Washington state boat registration page. You do
have to pay based on the market value. That seems a bit unfair. If
they charged every do-it yourselfer for his own labor there would be a
riot at the state capitol.

Just after I started the boat I called the GA DOR and asked about the
sales tax situation on DIY boats. The first answer I got was that I
have to pay based on the market value. For me that would be about $17K!
That did not seem correct so after 5 or 6 phone calls I finally
reached the Commissioner's office and was told that you would only have
to pay based on the completed value if you are in business and convert
one of your products to personal use. I got a bit concerned that some of
the invoices for big items named "DRS Marine" as the buyer so I made up
invoices transferring them to me personnaly.

I also asked about sales tax when I called the DNR to get information on
getting a HIN assigned. Their response was "We don't talk to DOR and
they don't talk to us." It seems that that is about to change. I am
close enough to launch now that I believe I will go ahead and get my HIN
and hope they don't go back and look at prior registrations. I will
just have to pay property taxes an extra year.


Steve wrote:
What makes this strange is that I paid tax on my labor and I paid tax at a
rate of 9.5% (the current rate) rather than 8.5% that was in effect the
previous years. (Even though I had paid sales tax on the material, they
charge me 9.5% on the overall declared value of the boat and subtacted the
total sales tax paid previously at 8.5%.)

Had I not provided all of those reciepts, I would have paid a much more
using their methods (major equip, etc.).

I could have registered the boat in early stage of building, when I
purchased the bare fiberglass hull. But then the boat would have been
registered as built in 1995 rather than 2002. (as if model year has much to
do with a DIY boat)

I won't say what I paid in sales tax, but it would have paid for a new main.



--
Glenn Ashmore

I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack
there of) at: http://www.rutuonline.com
Shameless Commercial Division: http://www.spade-anchor-us.com