How to Save Thousands with Montana Yacht Registration

Montana has become a hub of vehicle registration activity over the years, thanks to its lack of sales tax and exemption from emissions testing requirements. This has led to the popularity of choosing a Montana LLC registration option for high-end vehicles, such as supercars, luxury motorhomes, and even collectible cars. But did you know you are not limited strictly to land vehicles for registration in Montana? 

That is correct. 

If you own or are looking at buying a luxury boat or yacht, a Montana LLC boat registration can save you thousands (or even tens of thousands) in sales taxes, and LLC TLC is your trusted partner in making this happen

Why Yacht Owners Are Choosing Montana

If you do not reside in Montana, or more aptly, if Montana is not your domicile state, why would you want to register your expensive boat in Montana instead of your home state?

In a nutshell, it comes down to taxes. 

Your domicile state dictates the terms of your sales taxes, which apply to basically all purchases. If you live in Chicago, Illinois, and are considering purchasing a yacht, you will be subject to a tax rate of 11.5%. If the yacht you are looking at is $325,000, that comes in at a startling $37,375 in sales tax alone.

Our clients, Tom & Diana, had their Selene 59 Yacht featured on Yacht Tech Inc. - "Your service worked all through the Mediterranean Ocean. Each country required us to check in, and our registration and paperwork provided by LLCTLC was perfect. We are currently enjoying Canadian and Pacific Northwest waters. Thank you for all your help!"

How Montana LLC Yacht Registration Works

The Montana LLC registration program works the same way for boat and yacht registrations as for any other vehicle registration. The registration process has four steps:

Step 1: Choose a Name for Your LLC

This is your opportunity to protect your privacy with yacht ownership. Your LLC name does not have to be related to your name, so it is a great chance to direct attention away from yourself and your name if that is an issue. Ask us about our additional privacy options:

• Basic Privacy - no personal address on the filing

• Armored Privacy - no personal details on the filing (A New Mexico LLC will own your Montana LLC)

Step 2: Choose a Montana Registered Agent

If you opt to register any vehicle out-of-state in Montana through an LLC, you must have a Montana Registered Agent; the Registered Agent is responsible for answering all legal correspondence on behalf of the LLC owner. LLCTLC has over two decades of experience as a Montana Registered Agent, so you know you will be in good hands. 

We provide a physical address in Montana for your LLC, process all compliance documents, and make sure that you do not miss important deadlines as a business owner. 

Step 3: Establish a Montana Address for the LLC

Every Montana LLC must have a physical address within the State of Montana. Part of our Montana LLC Registered Agent package is to provide you with a physical address to satisfy this state requirement and prove the LLC's residency.

Step 4: File the LLC or INC with the Montana Secretary of State

We handle this step for you! As soon as you purchase your package, we file your new business within one business day:

• Gather information that includes the LLC name, Registered Agent details, and the names of members or managers.

• Submit the filing. We handle this step for you. 

• Always keep a copy of all paperwork for your records. 

  
  

Step 5: Vehicle Registration

In this case, it is a boat or a yacht, which is unimportant; all vehicles are submitted and processed the same way. 

1. Provide proof of ownership. This can be a title with the Montana LLC listed as owner, or, a bill of sale showing "proof" that the boat was sold to the LLC.

2. Pay the one-time fee. Boats all get permanent registration in Montana, so you pay no renewal fees for the vehicle!

3. Send us your title work, and we will register the boat and send you your stickers in 2-5 business days, with the Montana title following in 2-5 weeks.

Benefits of Registering a Yacht in Montana

You will want to register a yacht in Montana for two reasons.

The first is sales tax savings, and we have beaten that one into the ground. By checking your local and state sales tax rates, you know what you will owe on a boat you bought. However, if you register and title your boat in Montana, you will never pay sales tax and will only pay a one-time registration fee. 

The second reason is more nuanced. 

Yachts are the consummate luxury item owned by people who do not always want to be caught in the public eye. But if your registration is obvious and leads straight to your name, everyone will know exactly who is anchored in the port.

But an LLC does not give away your sacred privacy. You choose the name, which can be as obscure as you want. With our Armored Privacy options for our Montana and New Mexico LLCs, you can sleep easily knowing that anonymity and privacy protection are extremely important to us. 

Is Montana Yacht Registration Legal?

We get this question (and variations of it for cars, trucks, and especially OHVs) all the time. The short answer is yes! Registering your yacht or boat in Montana is entirely legal. Think of it this way: you are not the owner of the yacht; the owner of the yacht is a potentially anonymous asset-holding company. Is it true that you own the LLC? Also yes. 

The LLC is the tool that provides you with legal residency in Montana. Remember, residency is all you need to use the service legally. Additionally, recall that residence and domicile are two distinct legal terms with distinct meanings.  

Why Use LLC TLC for Your Montana Yacht Registration

LLC TLC has been a Montana Register Agent for well over two decades and has served thousands of satisfied customers. Not only are we familiar with Montana and the LLC registration process, but we are also native Montanans. Located in Helena, LLC TLC is proud to call Montana home and share our outstanding tax laws with the rest of the country. 

We specialize in high-end car registrations, luxury motorhome registrations, aircraft registrations, boats and yachts, UTVs, ATVs, and other OHVs. 

Final Thoughts

The math is straightforward: you can save a lot of money by registering your yacht out of state through a Montana LLC. You can also register other vehicles through the same LLC, so if you own expensive cars, trucks, or even collectible cars, we can add them to the same LLC! There is no sales tax, no emissions testing, and no waiting in line at the DMV. 

Are you ready to get started? Email info@llctlc.com, call us at (877) 913-5100, or use the contact form here!