Vessels
Vessels are taxable and are appraised annually at their
current market values. Their values are determined by employing
a number of approaches, including a review of their purchase
prices, the sales of comparable vessels, and other market
data.
Vessel Frequently Asked Questions
Question: Why are
Vessels assessed for property taxes?
The California Constitution (Section XIII, Article
1) provides that all tangible property is taxable unless
it is otherwise exempted by the Constitution or by the
legislature. Household personal property was exempted
in the 1950's, but privately-owned vessels, aircraft,
and automobiles are still subject to property tax.
Question: My Vessel
is registered with the DMV and I pay a registration fee. Why
must I also pay property taxes?
Property taxes for vessels are not collected through the registration
fee, as they are with motor vehicles. Where automobiles are concerned,
DMV registration fees do include both a registration fee and
also what is known as an in-lieu fee for property taxes that
is returned to local government in-lieu of a property tax assessment
by the assessor. Though it may seem like you are being doubly-taxed,
that is not the case.
Question: I sold
my vessel, so do I still have to fill out the Vessel Owners' Report
the Assessor sent me?
Yes. That's because the Assessor needs to know: 1) the date
it was sold, and 2) Who purchased the vessel and is now
the new assessee.
Question: I haven't
used my vessel for a long time, so do I still have to fill out
the Vessel Owners' Report the Assessor sent me?
Yes, because without all available information regarding the
vessel's physical condition, an over assessment could result
if you do not.
Question: I'm in
the military. Doesn't that exempt me from filling-out the Vessel
Owners' Report?
No, you must still fill-out the report. Some, but not all,
military personnel may be exempt from paying vessel property
taxes under Federal Law (Soldier's and Sailors' Relief Act of
1940), so the Assessor still needs to collect the information
requested on the Vessel Owners' Report.
Question: My vessel
is a documented vessel, must I still pay property taxes on it?
Yes. The law does not differentiate between vessels registered
with the DMV and those "documented" with the Coast
Guard, and both are subject to property taxation.
Question: I paid
$10,000 for my vessel AND trailer, why has the Assessor assessed
my vessel alone for the full $10,000?
This may have happened because the Assessor relied on information
provided by the State DMV about the sale. In some cases, the
State DMV neglects to allocate the value between vessel and trailer
and reports it as a single number to the Assessor. The trailer
is subject to a vehicle license fee that includes in-lieu property
tax and should not be otherwise assessed. If you think the Assessor
may have inadvertently assessed your vessel's trailer as part of
your vessel's value, please contact our Personal Property Division.
Question: How did
the Assessor determine the value of my vessel?
The Assessor uses various approaches to arrive at the value,
including the purchase price of the vessel, improvements or upgrades
that have been made to it, and the recent sales of comparable
vessels in the open market. A recent, arm's length purchase of
a vessel is considered to be a good indicator of its true market
value.
Question: I keep
my vessel docked in another county. Why did Madera County assess
it?
If the vessel is registered to you in Madera County and the
registration does not specify that it is docked in another county,
then Madera County will assess it. If your vessel is habitually
docked in another county, we will cancel the assessment and also
notify the county in which your vessel is located of that action.
To discuss the problem, contact our Personal Property Division.
Question: My documented
vessel is in Mexico. Why is it still being assessed in Madera
County?
A documented vessel is assessed at the 'place of documentation'
unless it is kept elsewhere and notice of this fact
has been sent to the Assessor of the county in which
it is documented. Temporary absences of a few months
duration would not affect the situs of the vessel. If
you feel your vessel is being improperly assessed in
Madera County, then you should call the Personal Property
Division.
Question: I sold
my vessel months ago, so why am I getting a tax bill for it?
Liability for vessel property taxes attaches to its owner
as of 12:01 a.m. on January 1 each year (the Lien Date).
The bill for the coming tax year is then issued to the
owner of record at that time, and that individual is liable
for the taxes even if the vessel was sold soon after that
date. Where the vessel was sold just before the lien date
(December 30, for example), the new owner would be liable
for the new bill. If you were not the owner on January
1, but the bill was issued in your name, then you need
to contact the Personal Property Division, and notify
the DMV of the name and address of the buyer.
Question: The vessel
belonged to my relative when he or she died in March, so do we
still have to pay the bill?
Liability for vessel property taxes attaches to its owner
as of 12:01 a.m. on January 1 each year (the Lien Date). The
bill for the coming tax year is then issued to the owner of record
at that time, and that individual, or their estate (if they are
now deceased), is liable for the taxes. If the owner of record
on the lien date is now deceased, you should contact the person
or entity that is administering your relative's estate and bring
the outstanding bill to their attention.
Question: My spouse
and I were divorced and he or she got the vessel as part of the
settlement. Can the Assessor bill the vessel in my spouse's name
only now.
If, in a divorce proceeding, a spouse was given sole title
to the vessel prior to 12:01 a.m. January 1 (the lien date), then
that spouse alone would be liable for the tax bill created for
that lien date. If title passed to your spouse after January
1, the bill would be issued to the owner or owners of record
as of that date and, if your were both owners then, the Assessor
could not remove your name. If your spouse was awarded the vessel
prior to January 1, but the bill was issued in both your names,
you will need to provide us with copies of those court documents
which ordered the transfer to your spouse. To discuss the problem,
contact the Personal Property Division.
Back
to Assessment Information
Contacting Us  |
Madera County Assessor's Office
200 W. 4th Street
Madera, CA 93637
Telephone: (559) 675-7710
Fax: (559) 675-7654
Office Hours: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Monday through Friday
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