The report below is copied from the AGLCA list. This is disturbing news, if the Sarasota County Tax Office knows what they are talking about (see below). The Sojourners Permit allowed cruisers to keep their vessels in Floridian waters for longer than 90 days, without paying any tax. If this permit is gone, it means increased cruising costs in the Sunshine State!
If ANYONE has more information about the current state of the Florida Sojourners Permits, or lack thereof, PLEASE click the “Comment on This Posting/Marina/Anchorage/Bridge” link below, and share your info (or send e-mail to me at CruisingWriter@CruisersNet.net). Thanks in advance

I guess Florida is looking for every tax nickel they can squeeze from everybody. I went to get a Sojourners Permit at the Tax Collector’s Office in Sarasota and was informed that beginning November 1st, 2009, boaters from other states in Florida waters longer than 90 days have to buy a regular annual Florida state registration, which was $196 for my 53 foot boat. If you are not documented, you have to out the Florida registration numbers on your boat, like any other, although they said that they would accept a wood board with the appropriate size registration numbers. If you are documented, you have to display the registration expiration decal (about 4 inches square) on your boat.
This information and charge was per Sarasota Tax Collector Manager, Sheri Silvio. They accepted the same application as previously used for a Sojourner’s Permit.

And, the info below was received after I sent out an Alert about the message above.

They may not call it that, but I bought one in Palm Beach County 2008, and this year received a notice in the mail which allowed me to renew it online, good till Nov 2010. They seem to lump it in with boat registration. In 2008 I took all my documentation to the offices on PGA in Palm Beach Gardens, told them I was staying too long and they knew just what I wanted. This year, even easier. PB County adds an additional $40 for being PBC, but the renewal omitted that, so it cost $86.
Jim

Claiborne, I purchased a sojourner Permit in November from the same person in Sarasota. The only difference is that with the sojourner permit the FL folks don’t delve into the sales tax paid on the vessel. (trying to collect more) as they will if you are obtaining the FL registration. You must have another state registration to obtain the sojourner permit even for a documented vessel. My registration is MD. The sojourner rate has doubled since I did this in 2007-08. I obtained my permit on 11/16/09
Kevin J. Hopper
Attorney at Law
M/V Island Hopper

Can someone answer these two cruisers’ questions below????

We left Last Chance in Jax Beach while returning north for holidays, Have heard that we must leave state within 89 days or pay Florida tax. We are documented 65’ trawler. What tax, how much? Our home port is Lewes, DE and DE does not have a sales tax? Anybody out there know?
NA

If you have a cruising permit from us custom do you need the Fla permit?
Stew Green

Please understand that U.S. Customs and the Florida Dept. of Revenue are completely separate federal and state agencies, who hardly talk to one another. A permit from one does not satisfy the other’s requirements.
Ted Guy

Stew,
I see that neither of the two responses you got to your question was of . . . value . . . , so I thought I’d try to help out. The following link will (hopefully) take you to the Florida Dept of Revenue document called “Sales and Use Tax on Boats”. If you scroll down to ‘Specific Exemptions’ you will see a sub-heading called ‘Foreign Flagged Vessels’ which clearly provides a NO answer to your question (conditional, of course). In addition, the many above comments regarding the requirement of purchasing a ‘Sojourners Permit’ or any other permit to cruise in Florida waters is somewhat suspect given the paragraph immediately preceding the ‘Specific Exemptions’ heading in the above mentioned DOR document. This paragraph indicates that most non-residents of Florida are not subject to the State Use Tax at all, which is, of course, the basis for virtually all concerns regarding permits and registrations, and thereby questions similar to yours. I hope this helps (and doesn’t just raise more questions than it answers… as I think it may). http://dor.myflorida.com/dor/forms/2009/gt800005.pdf
Jack Manwaring

I thought I should add to my previous comment, that although non-residents are usually not subject to the States use tax, this is only if they do not remain on Florida waters for more than 90 consecutive days or 183 days total in a calandar year. Anyone who is on Florida waters more than the above is required to register their boat in the State of Florida (regardless of your state of residency), which is when (and how) you are immediately subject to the States’ use tax.
Jack Manwaring

My Experiences
I got my first ‘Sojourner’s Permit” in 2005 in Marathon. The application I filled out said Sojourners Permit I think, but I am really not sure. The documents I was issued are identical to those issued to a Florida resident. I know this because I my dinghy is titled in Florida and has Florida registration numbers. My big boat was issued a Florida registration document and the decal to be affixed to the boat had my documentation number instead of a Florida license number. The initial registration was valid for a pro rated year, expiring on my birthday.
Each year since I get a mail and email notification for renewal for both boats.. They are identical. Each year the fee has increase a little. I renewed both boats in October 2009 for two years.
I suspect that there never was a “Sojourners Permit”. It just said that on the application form. Now Florida has eliminated the form. The fees are the same.
Jim Barrentine
Down Time