Taking Boat Into Canada

[CANADABOATER]

I am a US citizen with a cottage in Canada who wants to take a boat purchased in the US to the cottage and leave it, but bring the trailer back with me. Does anyone know what I need to do to accomplish this? I will be purchasing it here and it is a used boat. Do I pay US sales tax and the Canadian taxes as well?

 

[Tim Frank]

Re: Taking Boat Into Canada

I am a US citizen with a cottage in Canada who wants to take a boat purchased in the US to the cottage and leave it, but bring the trailer back with me. Does anyone know what I need to do to accomplish this? I will be purchasing it here and it is a used boat. Do I pay US sales tax and the Canadian taxes as well?

The most common scenario that I have heard is that you should be able to aplly for a refund of the US tax that you paid but would have to pay the Canadian taxes when you register the boat here.
There are different procedures for every province up here, and no doubt for every state down there.
If you are cottaging in Ontario, I can get both federaral and Ontario regs for you with a local phone call. PM me if that is of interest.
Also, I would be fairly sure that the info is available on-line.

It also depends what sort of lake you are on. there are many lakes that are not part of a system/chain of lakes and never see a police presence, so registration may be "optional"....

 

[Jeff-in-PA]

Re: Taking Boat Into Canada

The pontoon boat I purchased last fall was PA registered. What he did was trailer the boat in Canada in the spring, leave it in the water all boating season and kept it in a storage area in Clayton NY ( which is just across the border). repeat in the spring

You may find it cheaper to trailer it back and forth than pay all the canadian taxes.

Just another option to check out.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Taking Boat Into Canada

You can bring it over without any taxes as a visitor. Just take it back at the end of the season.

 

[mphy98]

Re: Taking Boat Into Canada

not to hijack the thread but, I am going to take my boat up there this week and leave it there for good but keeping the registration here in wisconsin. The lodge has no problem with this, will I run into any problems with this? and how will anyone know I haven't taken it back across? thank you

 

[Tim Frank]

Re: Taking Boat Into Canada

If you are far enough out in the woods, there is no practical problem.
The only aithority that will be worried about wehat you are doing are fish and game officers. If your fishing licences are OK and you are not over-limit, I would not think you would have a problem.
There have been a number of posts by people with this question....some with boats that they have just bought.

It might be worth at least pricing boats in Canada; there are good deals and the US dollar is OK against the canadian $ now.

 

[Jeff-in-PA]

Re: Taking Boat Into Canada

not to hijack the thread but, I am going to take my boat up there this week and leave it there for good but keeping the registration here in wisconsin. The lodge has no problem with this, will I run into any problems with this? and how will anyone know I haven't taken it back across? thank you

Customs will ask you if you will be leaving anything in Canada. I suggest you "forget" to mention that you'll be leaving the boat there.