Conference unifix::sailing

2027.0. "MA excise tax changes" by MARX::CARTER () Wed May 05 1993 16:45

    A little over a week ago Tony Chamberlain wrote an article in the
    Boston Sunday Globe that may be of some interest to boaters in
    Massachusetts.
    
    House Bill 2741 has been filed by Rep Thomas Cahir on behalf of the
    Buzzards Bay Action Committee.  This bill would change the way excise
    taxes for boats are computed.
    
    At present there is a formula which is based upon length and age which
    is used to determine the tax valuation.  All boats within a few age
    groupings and size groupings are assessed for the same amount,
    regardless of condition or actual value.  
    
    Under the provisions of HR 2741, the BUC book would be used to
    determine value.  In the examples cited in Chamberlain's article,
    nobody's tax bill went down, but some went way up.  One example he used
    was his own 1988 C+C 30.  Presently he pays a tax bill of $185.  Using
    the BUC book values the tax would rise to as much as $430.
    
    In the article Chamberlain quotes a source as saying the Buzzards Bay
    Action Committee is the same group which last year proposed raising the
    tax rate per thousand from $10 to $25.  
    
    If you have strong feelings about HR 2741 you may want to let
    your state representative know them.
    
    djc