Car Seller Stuck With Taxes on Speed Boats, Ohio Tribunal Rules

A car dealership and its manager are on the hook for about $60,000 in use tax after the Ohio Board of Tax Appeals found Monday that they bought three power boats for personal use, not for resale.

The Ohio Department of Taxation assessed use tax for the purchase, storage, and repair of three boats: a 2002 55’ Sea Ray named “Sweet ‘N Low,” a 2006 38’ Fountain named “Play Pen,” and an unnamed 1996 45’ Sea Ray. Lease Car Sales Inc. and manager Brian Litra argued the boats were purchased for resale, making them exempt from taxation.

• The boats were ...