Boat Taxes in Florida.
The 6% rate, the $18,000 cap, the 180-day window, foreign flags and insurance — everything an owner actually needs, on a fast read.
Florida built its tax law to bring the world's boats to its docks — and for owners who know the rules, that design becomes a real, measurable advantage.
Since 2010 the state has capped sales and use tax at $18,000 on any vessel, no matter the price, and charges no annual property tax at all. It is why Fort Lauderdale, Miami and the Keys became the center of the U.S. yacht market. But the details decide everything: the 180-day non-resident window, the rules for a foreign flag, and how insurance changes the moment your boat flies a Caribbean ensign.
This guide lays out every tax you'll actually meet — verified against the Florida Department of Revenue and federal rules — in a fast, visual format built for a quick review before you buy, register, or cross a border.
What's inside the guide- The four taxes at a glance — sales/use, property, repair, and the county surtax
- The $18,000 cap explained — and why a $2M yacht still pays only that
- The 180-day window for non-residents — the decals, the deadlines, the 200% penalty
- Florida vs. Caribbean flags — a full registry comparison and the real $2M math
- Foreign-flag rules — the Cruising Permit, what you can and can't do, and the "Certificate of Deposit" trap
- How insurance changes by flag — plus a one-page quick-reference card
Download the guide free, here.
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