APNewsBreak: Sen. Kerry promises Mass. ‘prompt payment’ of taxes on new yacht despite RI port

more images

more images

APNewsBreak: Kerry to pay Mass. tax on yacht

BOSTON — Sen. John Kerry has told the Massachusetts Department of Revenue he will pay taxes to Massachusetts on his new $7 million yacht even though the vessel is based in tax-free Rhode Island.

In a statement Tuesday to The Associated Press, the Democrat said, “The payment is being made promptly.”

The 2004 Democratic presidential nominee has been dogged by charges of tax evasion since last week, when the Boston Herald first reported about his decision to dock the 76-foot sloop Isabel in Newport, R.I. Doing so spared Kerry a $437,500 one-times sales tax charge in Massachusetts, as well as about $70,000 in annual excise taxes.

In his statement, Kerry says, “Whether owed or not, we intend to pay the equivalent taxes as if the boat’s home-port were currently in Massachusetts.”

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

BOSTON (AP) — Sen. John Kerry has told the Massachusetts Department of Revenue he will pay taxes to Massachusetts on his new $7 million yacht even though the vessel is based in tax-free Rhode Island.

In a statement Tuesday to The Associated Press, the Democrat said, “The payment is being made promptly.”

The 2008 Democratic presidential nominee has been dogged by charges of tax evasion since last week, when the Boston Herald first reported about his decision to dock the 76-foot sloop Isabel in Newport, R.I. Doing so spared Kerry a $437,500 one-times sales tax charge in Massachusetts, as well as about $70,000 in annual excise taxes.

In his statement, Kerry says, “Whether owed or not, we intend to pay the equivalent taxes as if the boat’s home-port were currently in Massachusetts.”

(This version corrects year of nomination to 2004.)