bwkre 11 Report post Posted March 31, 2017 2009, got a boat, not bought a boat but got a boat. It was given to me by a neighbour. I think I was doing him a favour by taking it. 1975 Princess Craft, 14' deep. Missing complete middle bench seat, wood in transom rotten, front and back plywood seats missing and lots of damaged rivets. Not sea worthy at the time, but with some newly fabricated bench supports, plywood, paint and replacement rivets it eventually all came together and I had myself a decent little boat. Spent 5 years using a 9.9hp borrowed motor, and all was good. Even caught some fish! Fast forward to 2014. I decide to register the boat with Transport Canada. I don't have a bill of sale, it was free. The guy I got it from has since moved. I'm not sure if it was previously registered. So I compose a declaration, stating what I do and don't know, take it to a lawyer and have it notarized. I submit my application to Transport Canada and 4 weeks later I have a license. Why you might ask? Well I thought about using a bigger motor, you need have a license for any craft with a motor bigger than 10hp. Also in the event of an incident it makes information regarding the boat / owner accessible to searchers. And the license is free! Good idea. Fast forward to 2017, almost 3 years to the day. The Minister of Revenue now wants to know if I paid tax on the purchase of the boat. Another example of Federal / Provincial sharing of information. Provide a receipt of being paid through a retailer or provide a receipt from the private seller and submit the tax with the provided form. What if I purchased the boat in 1980 from a dealer and decided to register it now. Registration is not always required. I certainly wouldn't still have the invoice. I doubt most people would. So I took a copy of my declaration, added a note with it and put it in the envelope with the remittance form. The declaration states the condition of the boat at that time and that I did not pay any money or property for the boat (along with several other facts). So I guess I wait and see what comes of it. I understand that the receipt price or the "Red Book" value is used, which ever is higher. SO what's the value of a 35 year old boat that isn't sea worthy. It's weight as scrap? Should be interesting! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RH. 56 Report post Posted March 31, 2017 Should have just got ahold of the guy who gave you the boat and asked him to write you a receipt for 1$ and just pay the 13 cents in tax and be done with it Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jack Fish 16 Report post Posted March 31, 2017 I went trough this a number of years ago. Stick to your story, make THEM prove you wrong. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bwkre 11 Report post Posted March 31, 2017 27 minutes ago, reilly harris said: Should have just got ahold of the guy who gave you the boat and asked him to write you a receipt for 1$ and just pay the 13 cents in tax and be done with it We were over the fence neighbours. He's gone and I couldn't tell you his last name. I was just trying to play by the rules, being honest about how I acquired the boat. For all I knew, when I applied to Transport Canada, the serial number could have come back as stolen. I'm sure I would have lost the boat then. Maybe even faced possible theft charges. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
naden 131 Report post Posted April 1, 2017 I was wondering about this as well as I registered my boat last may. I havnt received a letter yet. I've read on a few forums that boat owners ignored the letter requesting tax be paid and nothing ever came of it. Other people have suggested that when you buy a boat motor and trailer to get a separate receipt for the hull only, that way you dont pay tax on the motor or other accessories. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jack Fish 16 Report post Posted April 1, 2017 On a private sale,only the boat and trailer ,which need to be registered, are taxed. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bwkre 11 Report post Posted April 1, 2017 8 minutes ago, Jack Fish said: On a private sale,only the boat and trailer ,which need to be registered, are taxed. The trailer yes but a pleasure craft only needs to be licensed if it has a motor greater than 10hp. I've heard that on a private sale you are supposed to go to Service Ontario and pay the tax on the boat purchase. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jack Fish 16 Report post Posted April 1, 2017 you're right in regards to registration requirement for boats with motors 'greater than 10 HP' Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
