Dear RBAW Members and Supporters,
We need your voice.
Washington State Legislators are considering a 10% luxury tax on boat purchases over $500,000 in Senate Bill 5801, which passed on Saturday. This tax would negatively impact the entire boating community, regardless of boat size, value, or owner income. It threatens our boating lifestyle and the livelihoods of those who support it.
Even if your boat is under $500,000, this tax will hurt all Recreational Boaters
- The proposed tax will dramatically impact boat sales and we will all feel the ripple effects in reduced services, fewer jobs, and higher costs.
- Boaters already pay an annual watercraft excise tax of ~$20 million, making this a double hit to responsible owners.
Contact your State Representatives TODAY and urge them to oppose this harmful tax
- In 1991, the U.S. Government invoked a 10% luxury tax that led to a staggering 77% drop in boat sales within just one year - decimating the marine industry.
- This decimated the marine industry, driving beloved boat builders and others out of business.
- The tax was repealed in 1993 after tax revenues were much less than projected, and the economic damage was too obvious to ignore.
Please make the Call. Send the email. Tell your story
Our voice matters
What to say (feel free to personalize):
As your
constituent and a recreational boater, I’m asking you to oppose the proposed
10% luxury tax on boats over $500,000. This tax would hurt every boater and
damage the entire marine industry in our state which provides for many middle
class and family wage jobs - that the industry depends on. Recreational boaters
are also the only ones who ALREADY pay an annual excise tax based on our boat’s
value, and this proposed tax is a double hit to responsible boat owners. Please
help protect our boating industry and the thousands of Washingtonians who are
part of it. Thank you.
Use the Leg.Wa.gov Website to send an email to your Legislator
Its easy – enter your address and it will display your districts State Representatives and Senators. You can send them an email via this website and it will provide their office telephone number
