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TITLE 34PUBLIC FINANCE
PART 1COMPTROLLER OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS
CHAPTER 3TAX ADMINISTRATION
SUBCHAPTER EEBOAT AND BOAT MOTOR SALES AND USE TAX
RULE §3.741Imposition and Collection of Tax

  (6) A taxable boat or outboard motor and all accessories attached thereto purchased outside of Texas and brought into Texas for use in Texas is subject to use tax under Tax Code, §160.022 (Use Tax), or in lieu of the use tax, a new resident use tax is due under Tax Code, §160.023 (New Resident), if the taxable boat or outboard motor and all accessories attached thereto are brought into Texas by a new resident of Texas.

  (7) The purchase of a boat trailer is subject to motor vehicle sales and use tax under Tax Code, Chapter 152 (Taxes on Sale, Rental, and Use of Motor Vehicles). The total consideration paid or to be paid for a boat trailer must be separately stated from the total consideration paid or to be paid for a taxable boat and/or outboard motor at the time the boat trailer is registered in Texas. For more information on the taxation of boat trailers, see §3.74 of this title (relating to Seller Responsibility) and §3.72 of this title (relating to Trailers, Farm Machines, and Timber Machines).

(c) Imposition of the tax.

  (1) A sales tax is imposed on each retail sale of a taxable boat or outboard motor transferred for consideration within the territorial boundaries of Texas.

    (A) The sales tax rate is 6.25% of the total consideration paid or to be paid for each taxable boat or outboard motor sold. The total consideration paid or to be paid for a taxable boat must be separately stated from the total consideration paid or to be paid for an outboard motor. The total amount of sales tax due may not exceed $18,750 for each taxable boat or outboard motor sold in Texas. The total amount of sales tax allowed applies separately to the taxable boat and outboard motor.

    (B) The sales tax is the obligation of and shall be paid by the purchaser of the taxable boat or outboard motor. A dealer who collects sales tax from the purchaser of a taxable boat or outboard motor and does not remit the sales tax collected to either the Department an agent of the Department, or a participating county tax assessor-collector is liable for the sales tax collected and any penalties that may apply.

  (2) Use tax is imposed on the use in Texas of each taxable boat or outboard motor purchased outside of Texas and brought into Texas for use in Texas.

    (A) The use tax rate is 6.25% of the total consideration paid or to be paid for the taxable boat or outboard motor, regardless of any use or depreciation of the taxable boat or outboard motor before the entry of the taxable boat or outboard motor into Texas. The total consideration paid or to be paid for a taxable boat must be separately stated from the total consideration paid or to be paid for each outboard motor.

    (B) The use tax is an obligation of, and shall be paid by, the person who brings the taxable boat or outboard motor into Texas. The person obligated to pay Texas use tax may claim a credit against the use tax due at the time the taxable boat or outboard motor is titled and/or registered in Texas only for legally imposed state and local sales or use tax paid on the purchase of the taxable boat or outboard motor to another state, Puerto Rico, or a possession or territory of the United States by the purchaser of the taxable boat or outboard motor before entry into Texas. Acceptable proof of tax paid includes an out-of-state tax receipt, a seller's bill of sale, sales invoice, or sales contract identifying the amount of sales or use tax paid to another state on the sale of the taxable boat or outboard motor.

    (C) A new resident use tax of $15 is due in lieu of the use tax for each taxable boat or outboard motor owned by a new resident in any other state or foreign country and brought into Texas by the new resident if the taxable boat or outboard motor is brought into Texas by the new resident within 45 working days after becoming a new resident. The tax is an obligation of, and shall be paid by, the new resident who brings the taxable boat or outboard motor into Texas. A new resident cannot claim a credit against the new resident use tax due at the time the taxable boat or outboard motor is titled and/or registered in Texas for any legally imposed state and local sales or use tax due and paid to another state on the purchase of the taxable boat or outboard motor.

    (D) The use tax is not due on the use of a taxable boat or outboard motor brought into Texas for use in Texas if the taxable boat or outboard motor:

      (i) is a federally documented vessel or has a current certificate of number or registration issued by a United States Coast Guard approved numbering system of another state;

      (ii) is issued a temporary use permit that must be present on board the boat at all times while the taxable boat or outboard motor is located within the territorial boundaries of Texas; and

      (iii) the boat or outboard motor is removed from the territorial boundaries of Texas on or before the expiration date of the temporary use permit.

    (E) Subparagraphs (A) and (B) of this paragraph apply to the use of a taxable boat or outboard motor brought into Texas that remains within the territorial boundaries of Texas after the expiration date of the temporary use permit. Credit is not allowed for the $150 temporary use permit fee against any Texas use tax that may be due.

(d) Payment of the tax.

  (1) The seller and purchaser must complete an Application for Certificate of Title and/or Registration for each sale of a taxable boat or outboard motor in Texas, and:

    (A) if the seller collects the sales tax from the purchaser, the seller must remit the tax and the Application for Certificate of Title and/or Registration to either the Department, an agent of the Department, or a participating county tax assessor-collector within 45 working days from the date the taxable boat or outboard motor is delivered to the purchaser in Texas; or

    (B) if the seller gives the Application for Certificate of Title and/or Registration to the purchaser, the purchaser is then required to remit the sales tax and the Application for Certificate of Title and/or Registration to either the Department, an agent of the Department, or a participating county tax assessor-collector within 45 working days from the date the taxable boat or outboard motor is delivered to the purchaser in Texas.

  (2) Persons who owe use tax must complete an Application for Certificate of Title and/or Registration and remit the use tax and the Application for Certificate of Title and/or Registration to either the Department, an agent of the Department, or a participating county tax assessor-collector within 45 working days after the date the taxable boat or outboard motor is brought into Texas.

  (3) Persons transferring ownership of a taxable boat or outboard motor in Texas when no sales or use tax is due as a result of a tax exemption, even exchange, or gift of a taxable boat or outboard motor, must complete an Application for Certificate of Title and/or Registration indicating why no sales or use tax is due and file the Application for Certificate of Title and/or Registration with either the Department, an agent of the Department, or a participating county tax assessor-collector within 45 working days after the date the taxable boat or outboard motor is transferred in Texas.

(e) Failure of tax remittance by the selling dealer.

  (1) If a purchaser paid sales tax imposed by Tax Code, §160.021 (Retail Sales Tax), to a selling dealer, and the dealer failed to remit the sales tax within 45 working days from the date of sale, the Department, agent of the Department, or participating county tax assessor-collector shall accept an application for Certificate of Title and/or Registration for a taxable boat or outboard motor from the purchaser without payment of additional sales tax by the purchaser. The purchaser must provide proof that the sales tax was paid to the dealer. Acceptable proof includes an invoice, bill of sale, or a receipt signed by the dealer or its representative showing that the sales tax was paid to the dealer.

  (2) The Department, agent of the Department, or participating county tax assessor-collector shall notify the comptroller in writing of the dealer's failure to remit the tax. The notice must:

    (A) be made before the 31st day after the date the application for Certificate of Title and/or Registration is accepted;

    (B) contain the name and address of the dealer; and

    (C) include copies of documentation provided by the purchaser showing sales tax was paid to the dealer.

(f) Purchase of tangible personal property or accessories for resale.

  (1) A properly completed resale certificate as provided under Tax Code, Chapter 151, may be used to purchase tangible personal property tax-free to be combined into a taxable boat or outboard motor held for sale in the purchaser's regular course of business.

Cont'd...

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