Sec. 8. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), a boat may not be operated, used, docked, or stored during any part of a registration year unless:

(1) the boat has been registered under IC 9-18.1-14.5; or

(2) the boat is not required to be registered under IC 9-18.1-14.5.

     (b) A boat is exempt from the boat excise tax imposed by this chapter if the boat is:

(1) exempt from registration fees under IC 9-18.1-14.5-7; or

(2) used by a person for the production of income and subject to assessment under IC 6-1.1, proof of which has been provided to the bureau.

     (c) Boats that are subject to the boat excise tax for a registration year are not subject to assessment and taxation under IC 6-1.1 for ad valorem property taxes first due and payable in the following registration year, with respect to the taxpayer who must pay the boat excise tax.

     (d) If the boat excise tax imposed by this chapter was not paid for one (1) or more preceding registration years, the bureau of motor vehicles may collect only the boat excise tax imposed by this chapter for the:

(1) registration year immediately preceding the current registration year;

(2) current registration year; and

(3) registration year immediately following the current registration year.

As added by P.L.98-1989, SEC.1. Amended by P.L.33-1990, SEC.16; P.L.70-1991, SEC.1; P.L.80-1993, SEC.1; P.L.178-2019, SEC.26; P.L.164-2020, SEC.6.