will Senator Kerry finally pay his taxes due on his yacht?

Kerry to pay yacht tax in effort to cast off

After a burst of unflattering media, Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts has agreed to pay about $500,000 in taxes for a luxury yacht that he docked outside the state.

Kerry issued a statement Tuesday evening – five days after the story broke – saying he would make a lump payment to the state he represents.

“We’ve reached out to the Massachusetts Department of Revenueand made clear that, whether owed or not, we intend to pay the equivalent taxes as if the boat’s home port were currently in Massachusetts. That payment is being made promptly.”

The former Democratic presidential candidate initially avoided about $440,000 in Massachusetts sales taxes and $70,000 in annual excise taxes by stationing his new $7 million luxury yacht in neighboring Rhode Island. That state repealed taxes on the sale and use of yachts in 1993, making it a tax haven for boaters.

After the Boston Herald broke the story last Friday, Kerry was literally chased by local reporters and ridiculed by political columnists. The story was starting to make it into the national media when Kerry suddenly announced he would voluntarily pay the tax.

The New Zealand-built yacht has been seen repeatedly in Massachusetts waters, potentially giving the state a claim to levy a tax. Kerry’s spokesman said the yacht was docked in Rhode Island mainly for maintenance and chartering purposes.

Jeffry Bartash