Logo: Manatee County Tax Collector, Ken Burton Jr. Innovating better ways to serve.

Office Hours
Monday – Friday, 9 AM - 4:30 PM
taxcollector.com

Specialized Boat Transactions
To continually strive to improve our customer service, we have implemented ways for specialized boat transactions to be processed. Specialized boat transactions are: (1) homemade boats, (2) old boats that have never been registered, and (3) sojourner boat registrations. More information on these specialized transactions can be found below.  The options listed below provide you with the flexibility to meet your needs and avoid wait times in our lobbies.
 
OPTION #1 – Visit the First Manatee South County Tag Agency
Address: 5756 14th St W, Bradenton 34207 (Southwood Shops)
Hours: Mon-Fri 9am-6pm; Saturday 9am-2pm     Phone: 941.782.6050
 
Transactions can be processed as a walk-in (some restrictions apply) or can be dropped off. Processing requirements may differ from the Manatee County Tax Collector’s office. For requirements for the First Manatee South County Tag Agency, contact that agency at the phone number listed above.  To schedule an appointment, visit autotagagency.net.
 
OPTION #2 – Manatee County Residents and Businesses ONLY – Drop Off Work at the DeSoto Office
Address: 819 301 Blvd W, Bradenton 34205
 
Only Manatee County residents and businesses can drop off work at the DeSoto Office. Non-Manatee County residents and businesses must visit the First Manatee South County Tag Agency or another county’s tax collector office for processing.
 
Drop Off Requirements:
 
All specialized boat transactions must be dropped off at our DeSoto Office for processing. When dropping off work, you must check-in with the receptionist.
 
A signed Control Sheet and a copy of the applicant’s valid, unexpired driver license/ID card must be submitted with the drop off work. It is preferred that the control sheet, drop off work, and payment be placed in an envelope or folder when dropped off with the receptionist. Please choose one form of payment below: 
  1. Submit 1 check (for each control sheet submitted) made payable to Ken Burton, Jr., Tax Collector (no cash accepted) with the amount blank. 
  1. Submit a Credit Card Authorization Form (for each control sheet submitted). A 2.5% processing fee (minimum of $2.50) for debit/credit cards will apply. Our office does not retain any portion of this fee.  This form must be printed and submitted with the drop off work.
Processing Time:
Most transactions are completed and available for pickup within 3 business days (not including the day the work is dropped off and holidays). You will receive an email/text notification when your work is ready for pickup at the Express Lockers located in the drive thru of our DeSoto Office. View our Express Lockers video for instructions on dropping off and picking up  your work.
 
Any rejected work will be returned with a checklist detailing the reason for rejection.  Work that is resubmitted after corrections have been made is still subject to the 3-business day turnaround.
 
3-Business Day Turnaround Chart
Work Dropped Off On: Work Ready on:
Monday Thursday
Tuesday Friday
Wednesday Monday
Thursday Tuesday
Friday Wednesday
 
Homemade Boat
 
The following must be submitted in order to title and register a Homemade Boat. 
A copy of the applicant’s valid, unexpired identification (State-issued driver license/ID card or passport from any country), along with: 
If you are the builder: If purchased from the builder (in addition to the items listed above): Note: If your Homemade Boat is 16 feet or more in length, it is required to be inspected by the FWC before it can be titled and registered.  The contact information for the closest Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Regional Office is below.  You must call this office to arrange for an FWC officer to inspect your homemade boat.
 
Phone:  863.648.3200
 
Southwest Region Locations 
Hillsborough County             Polk County                              Lee County
5110 Gandy Blvd.                  3900 Drane Field Rd.              2423 Edwards Dr.
Tampa, FL 33611                  Lakeland, FL 33811                Fort Myers, FL 33901
 
Contact information for other Regional Offices can be found at MyFWC.com. 
 
Old Boat Never Registered
 
What qualifies as an Old Boat Never Registered?  Manufactured boats (not homemade) that are at least 5 years old that were previously exempt from titling requirements due to (1) previously being used exclusively on a private lake or pond, or (2) previously non-motorized and less than 16 feet in length.
 
What is required to title and register my Old Boat Never Registered? 
If ownership is not changing: 
  1. A copy of the applicant’s valid, unexpired identification (State-issued driver license/ID card or passport from any country)
  2. HSMV 82040 VS, properly completed
  3. Affidavit (signed by the owner) explaining why the boat was never previously registered.
  4. One of the following concerning the hull ID number:
    1. A legible pencil tracing (signed by the owner) of the hull ID number on tracing paper.
    2. If the hull number cannot be located, contact the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) at 863.648.3200; the boat will need to be inspected by FWC.
  5. Sales tax will be due, unless proof of sales tax paid or exemption information is provided.
    1. If you have paid sales tax but cannot provide proof you can sign a properly completed Miscellaneous Affidavit attesting to the fact that sales tax has already been paid on the boat. The following verbiage would be entered into the “Other” line item on the affidavit:
“I (We) hereby certify that all applicable sales tax has been paid on the boat described above.”

If ownership is changing: 
  1. A copy of the applicant’s valid, unexpired identification (State-issued driver license/ID card or passport from any country)
  2. HSMV 82040 VS, properly completed
  3. Affidavit (signed by the seller) explaining why the boat was never previously registered.
  4. Affidavit (signed by the purchaser) explaining why the boat is now being titled and registered.
  5. One of the following concerning the hull ID number:
    1. A legible pencil tracing (signed by the seller or purchaser) of the hull ID number on tracing paper.
    2. If the hull number cannot be located, contact the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) at 863.648.3200; the boat will need to be inspected by FWC.
  6. Notarized (or perjury clause) bill of sale.
  7. Sales tax will be due, unless proof of sales tax paid or exemption information is provided.
Sojourner Boat Registration
 
What is a Sojourner Boat Registration? 
An individual who brings their out-of-state/country registered boat into Florida and operates the boat on Florida waterways is allowed to do so for only 90 days without obtaining a Florida registration/decal.  Once they have resided in Florida for more than 90 days, they must either title/register the boat (if they are going to live in Florida permanently) or purchase a sojourner registration (if they plan on taking the boat back to their home state/country in the future).
 
What is required to obtain a Sojourner Boat Registration? 
In order to obtain a Sojourner Boat Registration, you will need to provide the following: 
  1. A copy of the applicant’s valid, unexpired identification (State-issued driver license/ID card or passport from any country)
  2. A copy of the out-of-state/country registration (showing the boat details, out-of-state/country #, and owner names).
  3. Application for Non-Titled Boat form HSMV 87244.
 Referred to DeSoto - Specialized Boat Transactions – Last Update: 11/16/2023