The Use Tax and Watercraft Excise Tax. The use tax applies to the value of property, digital products, and certain services when used in this state, if the retail sales tax was not collected when the user acquired the property or product. The tax is imposed at both the state and local levels. The state rate is 6.5 percent for most items of property, digital products, and services subject to tax; the local rate varies from 0.5 percent to 3.9 percent, depending on the location.
An annual excise tax of 0.5 percent of the fair market value, but not less than $5, is imposed on watercraft for the privilege of using a vessel upon the waters of the state. Tax proceeds are deposited to the State General Fund.
Nonresident Vessel Permits. The owner of a vessel who is a nonresident individual or other entity is required to obtain a nonresident vessel permit to operate the vessel on the waters of Washington under certain conditions. If the owner wants to operate the vessel on Washington waters for more than 60 days, the owner must apply for a permit on or before the 60th day of the visit to remain in the state for an additional 60 days. The owner may renew the permit once for an additional 60 days. When the permit expires, the vessel owner must either register the vessel in Washington or remove the vessel from Washington waters. If the owner registers the vessel in Washington, the owner must pay use tax in addition to the registration and titling fees, if retail sales tax has not already been paid, and watercraft excise tax may be due.
A nonresident vessel permit is not required for the use of the vessel in Washington for the first 60 days, if the vessel is currently registered in another state or the vessel has a current United States Coast Guard Documentation paper. In addition, no permit or registration is necessary if the vessel is in Washington exclusively for repairs, alteration, or testing.
The process to apply for a nonresident vessel permit depends on whether the owner is a person or an entity other than a person. If a person seeks a permit, that person must apply to the Department of Licensing (DOL) via the Department, a county auditor, or a subagent. The person must show an unexpired boat registration, identification, and the date that the vessel first entered Washington waters. The person must pay a fee of $25. If the owner is an entity other than a person, the entity must also be approved first by the Department of Revenue (DOR); the vessel for which the entity is seeking a permit must be no less than 30 feet in length and no greater than 164 feet; and the fee that must be paid to the DOL is $750 to $6,150, depending on the length of the vessel.
Before an entity other than a person may apply to the DOL for a nonresident vessel permit, the entity must obtain approval from the DOR. The entity must submit to the DOR the name of the record owner of the vessel; the name, address, and telephone number of the individual that is seeking authorization on behalf of the entity; the address of the record owner; the vessel's hull identification number; the vessel year, make, and model; the vessel length; the vessel's registration information; proof of the entity's nonresident status; proof of the identity and current residency of all principals of the entity; an affidavit signed by a principal of the entity certifying that no Washington resident is a principal of the entity; and any other information the DOR may require. If the entity appears eligible, the DOR must provide written approval to the entity and provide a copy of the approval to the DOL. The DOR may not provide approval for a permit to such entities after November 30, 2025.
Once the DOL has issued a nonresident vessel permit to an entity other than a person, the DOL must maintain a record of certain vessel information, and provide the information periodically to the DOR. The information includes the name of the record owner of the vessel; the vessel's hull identification number; the amount of fee paid for the permit; the date that the vessel first entered Washington waters; the expiration date of the permit; and any other information mutually agreed to with the DOR. The DOL may not issue more than two nonresident vessel permits within any 36-month period to an entity other than a person.
If, after the DOL has issued a permit to an entity other than a person, the DOR finds the entity ineligible for the permit, the DOR must assess state and local use tax on the value of the vessel, as well as any watercraft excise tax due.
The authority for an entity other than a person to obtain a nonresident vessel permit, and for the DOL to issue such a permit, expires in 2026.
The authorization that allows an entity other than a person to obtain nonresident vessel permits is expanded. The length of the vessel that may be permitted is increased from 164 feet to 200 feet. The entities eligible for such permits may include an owner or entity chartering a vessel with a captain or crew, as long as individual charters are for at least three or more consecutive days. The restriction that limits the number of nonresident vessel permits that may be received by a entity other than a person is removed. The authority for an entity other than a person to obtain a nonresident vessel permit, and for the DOL to issue such a permit, is extended to the end of 2030.