HELSINKI: The government is considering levying taxes on registered boats. The finance ministry is preparing a proposal in this regard; however, the details are not yet clear. The registration criteria for boats differ in different regions of the country; for instance, the registration system in the Åland Islands and the mainland Finland are different.
According of a finance ministry official, a solution is being sought to ensure that boats are taxed uniformly throughout the country. “The tax cannot be levied under different grounds in different parts of the country,” said Merja Sandell, a senior adviser to the ministry. According to Sandell, the registration of boats in the Åland poses a problem, since it does not correspond to the registration overseen by the Transport Safety Agency-Trafi.
Boats measuring 5.5 metres and above in mainland Finland have to be registered. However, in the Åland the limit is 24 metres. Furthermore, boats with engines up to 50 horsepower do not need to be registered in the Åland Islands.
