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Business Taxes Law Guide—Revision 2024
Sales and Use Tax Annotations
A B C D E F G H I J L M N O P R S T U V W X
V
585.0000 Vehicles, Vessels, and Aircraft—Regulation 1610
Annotation 585.8000
(a) Generally
585.8000 Vessel Delivered Outside of California. A California retailer of vessels enters into a contract with a California resident for the sale of a customized vessel and delivery at an "offshore delivery point." Provisions of the contract of sale require several partial payment deposits with the final payment due and payable after Buyer's final inspection and acceptance of the vessel at the "offshore delivery point." Seller's right to retain the deposits are contingent upon Buyer's acceptance of the vessel after final inspection. The risk of loss remains with the Seller up to the "final inspection and delivery" to Buyer. Possession and control is to remain with Seller prior to delivery of the vessel to Buyer. No title clauses are expressed in the contract. Under Uniform Commercial Code section 2401 and Regulation 1628(b)(3)(D), absent a contractual provision that title passes prior to delivery, title passage occurs at the time seller completes its duties with respect to physical delivery of the property. Under these circumstances, the sale of the vessel occurs outside California and, thus, is not subject to sales tax.
As long as the vessel is delivered outside of California, is first functionally used outside of California, and is functionally used in excess of 90 days outside of California, prior to any entry into California [see note below], the Buyer's subsequent California use, if any, will not be subject to California's use tax. If the vessel is delivered outside of California and enters California waters within 90 days after purchase, the Buyer will be subject to use tax unless the vessel is used or stored outside of California one-half or more of the time during the six months after the vessel entered California waters. 7/9/97. (Am. 2006–1; Am. 2008–1).
(Note.—For the period October 2, 2004 through June 30, 2007, under certain conditions any vehicle, vessel, or aircraft purchased outside of California and brought into the state within 12 months from the date of its purchase is presumed to be acquired for storage, use, or other consumption in California and subject to use tax.) (Regulation 1620(b)(5).)