Boat Registration
Kayaks and canoes must be registered in the state of Illinois. The initial fee for registration is $ 13.00 for 3 years. Renewal is then $6 (for 3 years). The fine for getting caught with no registration is $75, so registration makes fiscal sense.
Note also that Illinois uses the registration process to enforce collection of sales tax, which may complicate the procedure. Many paddlers have reported that the registration process takes 6-9 months to complete, but if you document well and submit as much information as possible, odds are more in your favor.
Out of state paddlers do not have to register boats in Illinois, but must have their boats registered in their home state, if the home state requires registration.
- IL DNR Boats Page is the main information page. Scrolling down will show links to other info, including the registration form, sales tax payment info, online registration renewal, etc. If you already know all this stuff and are just looking for the direct links see the following:
- New Registration: Print Boat Registration Application (pdf), include a letter with as many details as possible (explaining seller info - or lack thereof, cash sale, or whatever the cirumstances of your purchase)
- Sales Tax - determine which circumstance is yours:
- Illinois RETAIL purchase - the retailer must fill out the ST-556 Tax Form and give you a copy to show the tax you paid. Send in this form (make a copy for your records first) when you send in your registration
- Private sale (anyone not a true retailer) in or out of state - You owe no tax, but explain that you pruchased from a person not a business. Note: The state form RUT-75 explains that sales tax does not apply to Class A watercraft (including kayaks). It is also a good idea if you purchase from a state that did not require registration that you mention that, to explain the lack of paperwork in your application.
- Out of state RETAIL purchase (online included) - submit a RUT-25 (not currently available online) along with a separate check to the IDR for the sales tax with your application. If you paid sales tax in the other state you can get credit for that and pay the difference, but include the receipt to show purchase price and tax paid. Note that if you do not pay within the 30 days you may have a late payment penalty (Il Pub 103) of 2% of the owed tax.
- Renewal : Online Registration Renewal
- DNR watercraft Digest
- for the actual text of the law (625 ILCS 45)