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Maine Tax Laws on Yachts

Discussion in 'General Yachting Discussion' started by Irish Wake, Apr 3, 2008.

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  1. Irish Wake, Apr 3, 2008
    #1
    Irish Wake

    Irish Wake Member

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    The Maine Revenue Service has started an aggressive policy on yachts and aircraft. Regardless of flag, if your yacht is less than 1 year old and spends 25 days in Maine you may be liable for a 5% use fee. Full details are available on the M.R.S. web site. If you think you may fall under this law and are interested in joining a legal challenge, as the aircraft owners have done, please PM me for details.
  2. GrahamF, Apr 3, 2008
    #2
    GrahamF

    GrahamF Senior Member

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    It sound like another Sardinia Italy situation where the local goverments are getting a bit greedy and they will soon see that they have shot themselfs in the foot as boats will move away and boats will stay away. Dont people learn from other peoples mistakes.
  3. Irish Wake, Apr 4, 2008
    #3
    Irish Wake

    Irish Wake Member

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    Good morning Graham, I agree with your points. I remember reading a bit about the situation over there but don't know the details or outcome. Can you fill me in or recommend a source. This might be useful in our upcoming battle. Thanks
  4. bencashen, Mar 19, 2009
    #4
    bencashen

    bencashen New Member

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    Hello Everyone-

    new guy here- Ben Cashen- I hail from Camden Maine where I'm a service manager at Wayfarer Marine.

    Maine certainly does have some challenging stuff when it comes to taxes. I do know that there is a lot of talk about this at the government level right now and hopefully this all sorts itself out. Its a bit sad that the boatyard/boatbuilding/refit business is one of maine's largest industry sectors and the government is doing everything they can to drive people away.

    2nd most taxed state in the nation as well-
  5. Pascal, Mar 19, 2009
    #5
    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    I realize that this thread is a year old but this is plain stupid. Any recent development on how this has been enforced since this first heads up?

    25 days is nothing, although i understand that decent cruising weather that far north is probalby 15 days a year (kidding), it's real short.

    why dont' states try to encourage cruising in their waters is beyond comprehension....
  6. NYCAP123, Mar 19, 2009
    #6
    NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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    Most states do pretty much the same thing. I think they base the time table on what would be considered a short to moderate stay in their climate. A few days after that they say thanks for bringing those deep pockets here. I don't see many boats "visiting" Maine for 90 days. Those are summer residents.
  7. Pascal, Mar 19, 2009
    #7
    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    understood, but some folks may want to leave the boat somewhere, take a 2 week break from cruising to fly home and come back...

    or they may want to haul out and get some work done. If you have a choice between Maine and the 25 days limit, Mass and its 60 day limit (afaik) or RI which has no limit, why bother getting anywork done in Maine?

    counter productive.
  8. NYCAP123, Mar 19, 2009
    #8
    NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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    The 2 week break would probably just make it within the limit. Although I don't know the particulars of the tax code I would assume there may be an exception for boats there to be worked on same as there is in Florida for boats brought in to be put up for sale. I'd guess they want to cash in on the 'summer condo' same as Florida does with the 'winter condo'. It just seems more onerous because it's such a short period, but so is their season.