Purchasing a boat in SC

General Boats and Motors
1

Its been a while since I bought a boat, well over ten years I guess, but I didn’t realize I was going to get hit for a different tax besides a property tax. Maybe I should have known better. Does anyone truly know what this money goes towards? CASUAL EXCISE TAX-- $300 plus $16 to transfer the title.

So while the previous owner pays the property tax for 2016, the new owner gets hit for an extra $300…seems a little excessive.

http://www.dnr.sc.gov/boating/taxinfo.html

Boating - Tax Information on Boats & Watercraft

You are required by Article 17, Section 12-36-1710, code of Laws of South Carolina to pay Casual Excise or Use tax. You must have a notarized bill of sale with the purchase price shown to pay the Casual Excise or Use Tax.

Casual Excise Tax - The fee for casual excise tax is 5% of the purchase price and has a maximum of $300 if the boat and motor are purchased from same owner. When an outboard motor is purchased as one unit, the casual excise tax is 6% of the purchase price and has no maximum fee.

For example:

Boats and motors cap at $300 i.e. Boat purchase price $10,000 and motor purchase price $500, then $10,500 x 5%=$525, you pay $300
Boats cap at $300 i.e. Boat purchase price $12,000, then $12,000 x 5%=$600, you pay $300
Motors do not cap i.e. Motor purchase price $9,000, then $9,000 x 6%=$540, you pay $540

When you submit your paper work you can include the casual excise tax along with your fees to the following address:

SC Department of Natural Resources
PO Box 167
Columbia, SC 29202

May all your favorite bands stay together…

2

dealing with the same

my boat is coming from NJ. seller told me we were lucky with the $300 cap. NJ is a straight 7% of sales price. He was will to “work with me” on the paperwork to save some taxes. I declined, figured the fish gods may not look upon such a deal favorably.

3

It’s plain old State Sales Tax. I purchased a new 200 Verardo last year and learned about the non cap on motors when sold without a boat. Stupidest thing I’ve ever heard of.

218WA Sailfish
200 Verado
The "Penn"sion Plan

4

Seeing the government’s track record on using taxes for their original intended purpose, you can guarentee its not being used for that, whatever it was.

One Simple Thanks!!

http://www.militaryappreciationday.org

5

It’s a “have fun” tax . They were going to make it like 5 or 6% on the total sale but the big money boys who have expensive toys bucked the thoughts of that because of what they would have to pay . So they got the fine legislators of this state to get the laws changed in their favor .
Imagine paying 5% on a $400,000 boat .

The last boat I purchased I got at a steal but my yearly taxes show it at todays market value and that’s what they charge me .

6

Taxation without representation is tyranny??? Where’s Phin when I need him?

May all your favorite bands stay together…

7

We are lucky sc has a cap on sales tax. Most states do not. And it’s only 5%

Tall Sail Marine

8

NJ now has 3.5% sales tax on all boat/motor/trailer packages, capped at $100,000.

Kayak is not considered a “boat” unless its registered with a “motor.” Kayaks are 7%.

Fishing the beaches, Bays & Ocean of Wildwood/Cape May, NJ
Soon a resident of Georgetown, SC

9
quote:
Originally posted by Fishingpox

The last boat I purchased I got at a steal but my yearly taxes show it at todays market value and that’s what they charge me .

Get it appraised at a dealer, take the appraisal to the tax office and they will adjust the bill. Value of the hull and value of the motor, trailer and accessories don’t count in the value since they aren’t titled and you’ve already paid sales tax on that stuff.

10

THAT IS WHAT THEY CALL THE SALES TAX ON A LARGE ITEM

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