Ensure you understand the specific requirements for selling a boat in Arkansas and the requirements when using an Arkansas boat bill of sale.

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Arkansas Boat Bill of Sale Requirements
Arkansas Boat Bill of Sale Template

Arkansas Boat Bill of Sale Requirements

An Arkansas boat bill of sale is only required during vessel registration if you do not have the current registration card, the title lacks room for transfer, or the seller needs proof to obtain a sales tax credit. All vessel bills of sale should contain the following:

The names, contact information, and signature of the buyer and seller
The hull identification number or HIN
The make, model, and year of the vessel
The vessel’s horsepower
The selling price
The purchase date
A vessel description
The trailer, if applicable, must be itemized on the bill of sale or listed on a separate bill of sale if the document is to be used for sales tax credit purposes.

Many Arkansas OMV documents contain an official penalty of perjury statement, though the bill of sale does not, per se. However, it does have a warning that the state considers lying on the document for sales tax credit purposes a felony. It reads as follows:

“I understand that any attempt to evade or defeat the payment of the proper amount of tax by making any false statement is a felony under Arkansas law punishable by fine, imprisonment, or both.”

Arkansas Code Section 5-53-102 relays that “a person commits perjury if, in an official proceeding, he or she knowingly makes a false material statement under oath required or authorized by law.”

Perjury is considered a Class C felony punishable by 3 to 10 years of incarceration and fines of up to $10,000.

Does a Boat Bill of Sale Have to be Notarized in Arkansas?

A boat bill of sale does NOT need to be notarized in Arkansas to be considered valid.

After Purchasing a Vessel

Dealership Sales

For buyers:

Dealers collect sales tax at the time of purchase, whether the vessel is new or used.

Private Sales

For buyers:

You must apply for your vessel’s registration within 30 days of its purchase. In Arkansas, all vessels propelled by motor or sail must be registered. The exceptions include ships registered in other states or countries that use Arkansas waters for 90 consecutive days or less, vessels documented by the U.S. Coast Guard, and those human-propelled, such as canoes and kayaks.
You must go to your local state revenue office to register your vessel. You may not register your vessel without verification of its HIN. You can do this by submitting a pencil rubbing of the number, taking a photograph, and handing in a copy. You must also submit proof of ownership, such as a bill of sale or the current registration, proof that your taxes were paid or that you are listed for assessment for the current year, provided by your local county assessors, such as a receipt or stamped assessment papers, and proof of Arkansas insurance (if the vessel is a personal watercraft or propelled by an engine with greater than 50 horsepower). Registrations are valid for three years.
Arkansas does not charge sales tax on privately sold watercraft; however, you must pay registration fees based on your vessel’s length. They are as follows:
- Motorboat less than 16 feet long – $ 7.50
- Motorboat 16 feet to less than 26 feet long – $ 15.00
- Motorboat 26 feet to less than 40 feet long – $ 51.00
- Motorboat 40 feet and over – $105.00