Excise Tax Rates
Whether registering your watercraft for the first time or renewing your registration, you will pay an annual excise tax. The excise tax amount is based on watercraft class and age. The age of a watercraft is measured in years and is counted from the manufacturer's model year. The class of a watercraft is based on the watercraft price as determined by the manufacturer's original retail price when the boat was new. Please note that in addition to the excise tax, boat owners may be required to pay a Department of Natural Resources Fee and a Lake and River Enhancement Fee.
| Age: 1 |
Age: 2 |
Age: 3 |
Age: 4 |
Age: 5 |
Age: 6 |
Age: 7 |
Age: 8 |
Age: 9 |
Age: 10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLASS 1 Price: $0 to $499 |
$2 | $2 | $2 | $2 | $2 | $2 | $2 | $2 | $2 | $2 |
| CLASS 2 Price: $500 to $999 |
$6 | $6 | $6 | $6 | $6 | $6 | $6 | $6 | $6 | $6 |
| CLASS 3 Price: $1,000 to $1,499 |
$20 | $18 | $16 | $14 | $12 | $10 | $10 | $10 | $10 | $10 |
| CLASS 4 Price: $1,500 to $1,999 |
$30 | $27 | $24 | $21 | $18 | $15 | $15 | $15 | $15 | $15 |
| CLASS 5 Price: $2,000 to $2,999 |
$42 | $38 | $34 | $30 | $26 | $21 | $21 | $21 | $21 | $21 |
| CLASS 6 Price: $3,000to $4,999 |
$55 | $50 | $44 | $39 | $33 | $28 | $28 | $28 | $28 | $28 |
| CLASS 7 Price: $5,000 to $7,499 |
$70 | $63 | $56 | $49 | $42 | $35 | $35 | $35 | $35 | $35 |
| CLASS 8 Price: $7,500 to $9,999 |
$88 | $80 | $71 | $62 | $53 | $44 | $44 | $44 | $44 | $44 |
| CLASS 9 Price: $10,000 to $14,999 |
$110 | $99 | $88 | $77 | $66 | $55 | $55 | $55 | $55 | $55 |
| CLASS 10 Price: $15,000 to $22,499 |
$150 | $135 | $120 | $105 | $90 | $75 | $75 | $75 | $75 | $75 |
| CLASS 11 Price: $22,500 to $34,999 |
$200 | $180 | $160 | $140 | $120 | $100 | $100 | $100 | $100 | $100 |
| CLASS 12 Price: $35,000 to $49,999 |
$275 | $248 | $220 | $193 | $165 | $138 | $138 | $138 | $138 | $138 |
| CLASS 13 Price: $50,000 to $74,999 |
$375 | $338 | $300 | $263 | $225 | $188 | $188 | $188 | $188 | $188 |
| CLASS 14 Price: $75,000 and over |
$500 | $450 | $400 | $350 | $300 | $250 | $250 | $250 | $250 | $250 |
| CLASS 15 Price: Storage |
$12 | $12 | $12 | $12 | $12 | $12 | $12 | $12 | $12 | $12 |
Watercraft Placed in Storage
If your watercraft is placed in storage and not being operated on waterways, you can pay a flat storage excise tax rather than the Department of Natural Resources Fee, the Lake and River Enhancement Fee, and the full excise tax amount.
- A copy of the storage contract or receipt from a storage facility is presented when registering the watercraft.
- No watercraft decals are issued and the watercraft cannot be operated on waterways while in storage.
Excise Tax Credits and Refunds
If you sell your watercraft you may be eligible for a credit of remaining excise tax. The excise credit is not refundable, and may only be used as an excise tax credit toward another watercraft owned by the registrant or by a member of the registrant’s immediate family.
If your watercraft is destroyed and not replaced, you may be entitled to a refund of the remaining excise tax. Excise tax refunds for destroyed watercraft are issued by the County Auditor in the county where the boat is used, docked, or stored as of March 1.
You must visit a license branch location to apply for a watercraft excise credit or refund.
