TWIC/Documentation and Refunds.

[Walleye Express]

Please Forward this Email to other Captains

TWIC deadline changes to April 15th 2009

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on May 2 announced that the deadline for Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) compliance by mariners has been bumped back to April 15, 2009.

Even though the compliance date has changed, Captains are encouraged to enroll for their TWIC well before the new April 15, 2009 date. (The original deadline was Sept. 25, 2008)

TWIC was established in the Maritime Transportation Security Act and the SAFE Port Act to serve as an identification program for all Coast Guard credentialed mariners and personnel requiring unescorted access to secure areas within a port."

(There are more than 100 TWIC "fixed enrollment centers" had opened, and dozens of mobile enrollment centers)

Estimates vary on the number of workers who eventually will be required to carry a TWIC, but that figure generally is expected to top 1.2 million. At the time the DHS announced the extension, roughly 260,000 people had enrolled for the card, but fewer than 90,000 TWICs had actually been activated.

TWIC Program Help Desk: 1-866-DHS-TWIC (1-866-347-8942)

Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 12:00 a.m. EST.

Helpful Links

TWIC enrollment process

TWIC Faqs

The TWIC Help Desk

You may be entitiled to a refund!

ALEXANDRIA, Va., January 19, 2009 - Recreational boat owners who paid state sales taxes on a boat purchase, or those who secured a bank loan to finance a boat, may have some tax deductions available when filing their 2008 federal income tax return.

The Sales Tax Deduction

For boat owners who paid substantial state sales taxes on a new or used boat purchase last year, the Tax Extenders Act of 2008 signed by President Bush on October 3 continues to offer a federal tax benefit with a deduction for state sales taxes. Boaters must choose either the state sales tax deduction or state income tax deduction on their federal tax return -- you cannot take both.

In addition, to take the state sales tax deduction, the sales tax on a boat purchase must be applied at the same tax rate as the state's general sales tax. In order to claim the sales tax deduction, tax returns must be itemized. State sales taxes are entered on IRS form Schedule A, line 5b.

The Boat Loan Deduction

For those owners with a secured boat loan, mortgage interest paid on the loan may be deductible from your federal income taxes. Taxpayers may use the "second home" mortgage interest deduction for one primary home and one second home and must itemize deductions on their returns. A boat is considered a second home for federal tax purposes if it has a galley, a head, and sleeping berth.

Some boaters may be unaware of this potential tax benefit because not all lending institutions send borrowers an Internal Revenue Service form 1098 which reports the interest paid. Not receiving the form does not preclude taking the deduction. If a 1098 is not available, boaters should contact their lender for the amount of interest paid and should enter it on line 11 on Schedule A along with the lender's tax ID number. If a form 1098 is sent, boaters should simply enter the amount on line 10 of Schedule A.

For those who fall under the Alternative Minimum Tax, (ATM), most deductions are unavailable as taxes are calculated differently.

For more details on the mortgage deduction, go to http://www.IRS.gov and download Publication 936 or the Fact Sheets. For state tax deduction information download Publication 600, which also includes state-by-state tax tables.

Press Contact: Scott Croft, 703-461-2864, [email protected]

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Remember to check out the website for more information at http://www.michigancharterboats.com/members.html

Sincerely,

Michigan Charter Boat Association

See you at

the Show

Michigan Charter Boat Association will be at the following Sport Shows:

Michigan's Outdoorama

NOVI CENTER FEB 26-MARCH 1

Lansing Boat and Fishing Show

MARCH 12-15, 2009

Ultimate Sport and RV Show

DEVOS PLACE MARCH 19-22

USCG Renwal Questions?

Ron has had quite a few calls here at central regarding the renewal packet for your USCG license.

MCBA has the services of a retired USCG Licensing Specialist Lt. Commander Charles (chuck) Kakuska who will help answer any questions you have.

His number is (734)847-1723 or

e-mail at [email protected].

Do you need help with vessel Documentation?

As you know, beginning in the spring of '08 the USCG started random boardings of MDNR inspected vessels with a safety check list. This safety check requires both vessel documentation and PML's.

Every Charterboat will need to have on their boat a Certificate of Documentation (COD) with a "Coastwise" endorsement.

Jim Fenner has put together great reference material for you to use located under the Compliance section of the MCBA members pages.