The purchase of boats and vessels are subject to the New Jersey Sales & Use Tax Act. This act imposes a sales tax of 7% upon the receipts from every retail sale of tangible personal property in New Jersey. The act also provides for a compensating use tax whenever sales tax is not collected by a seller of taxable items sold and used in New Jersey. The act also provides for a compensating use tax whenever sales tax is not collected by a seller of taxable items sold and used in New Jersey.

Additional information on the New Jersey Sales & Use Tax Act.

The following apply to vessel transactions and use in this state under N.J.S.A. 54:32B-2, N.J.S.A. 54:32B-8.6, and N.J.S.A. 54:32B-10 of the Sales &Use Tax Act.

• Vessels acquired from a dealer in New Jersey are subject to sales & use tax.
• Vessel acquired by a resident of this state, including documented vessels, from a dealer outside the State of New Jersey are subject to use tax at the time of first use in this state
• Vessels acquired in a casual or non-dealer sale transaction that are subject to registration in New Jersey are subject to sales & use tax
• Any vessel not meeting the requirements of the “Head Boat” exemption as defined by N.J.S.A. 54:32B-8.12 is not exempt from the sales & use tax act.

For additional information on exemptions and the taxability of boats/vessels in New Jersey please contact the Northfield Regional Office, Neptune Regional Office or the Casual Sales Section in Trenton.

	Neptune Regional Office Phone: 732-869-8049 1828 West Lake Avenue, 3rd Floor Neptune, New Jersey 07753
	Northfield Regional Office Phone: 609-645-6687 1915-A New Road, Route 9 Northfield, New Jersey 08225
	Trenton Taxation Building Casual Sales Section 609-984-6206 50 Barrack Street, 1st Floor Lobby Trenton, New Jersey 08695