Illinois Aircraft/Watercraft Use Tax Transaction Return Instructions

Aircraft/Watercraft Use Tax Transaction Return Instructions
Form RUT-75, Instructions for Aircraft/Watercraft Use Tax Transaction Return
	

Illinois Department of Revenue

RUT-75	
		
	

Instructions for Aircraft/Watercraft Use
Tax Transaction Return
General Information

Who must file Form RUT-75?

If you acquire an aircraft or watercraft by gift, donation, transfer, or non-retail purchase, you must file Form RUT-75, Aircraft/
Watercraft Use Tax Transaction Return.
“Aircraft” includes airplanes, helicopters, hot-air balloons, ultra lights, gliders, blimps, dirigibles, seaplanes, and anything else
defined as aircraft in Section 3 of the Illinois Aeronautics Act.
“Watercraft” includes
	•	 Class 2, Class 3, and Class 4 watercraft as defined in Section 3-2 of the Boat Registration and Safety Act; and
	•	 personal watercraft as defined in Section 1-2 of the Boat Registration and Safety Act (jet skis, wave runners, etc.).
		 “Watercraft” does not include canoes or kayaks.

What is a “non-retail purchase”?

A purchase from a person or business not in the business of selling aircraft or watercraft at retail is considered a “non-retail
purchase.”
Note: For these instructions, “item” refers to both aircraft and watercraft as defined above.

What if I purchase from a dealer or leasing company?

Do not use Form RUT-75 if you acquired the item from an Illinois dealer or leasing company. If you acquired the item from an
Illinois dealer or leasing company, the Illinois dealer or leasing company must file Form ST-556, Sales Tax Transaction Return.
If you acquired the item from an unregistered out-of-state dealer, lending institution, or leasing company selling at retail, you
must file Form RUT-25, Vehicle Use Tax Transaction Return.

When is Form RUT-75 due?

Form RUT-75 is due within 30 days from the date of acquiring the aircraft or watercraft if acquired in Illinois or within 30 days of
bringing the aircraft or watercraft into Illinois if acquired outside Illinois. You must pay the tax or submit proof of tax payment or
exemption before your registration will be issued by the
•	 Department of Transportation ‑ Division of Aeronautics (aircraft).
•	 Department of Natural Resources (watercraft).

What if I need help?

If you have questions, visit our website at tax.illinois.gov or scan the QR code provided.
You may also call us weekdays between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. at 1 800 732‑8866, 217 782-3336,
or 1 800 544-5304 (TTY).
Language assistance services are available upon request and are free of charge.

Specific Instructions
Step 1 — Purchaser or new owner information

Line 3: This is the address as it will appear on the Illinois registration.
Line 5: Social Security number or federal employer identification number (FEIN).
Line 6: Watercraft only - Check if reporting a transfer between immediate family members. If our review indicates that the
primary reason for transfer was to avoid payment of tax, we will bill you for applicable tax, penalties, and interest.

Step 3 — Item information

Line 4: Date purchaser (not the seller) acquired the item.
Line 5: Date purchaser (not the seller) brought the item into Illinois. This date should always be on or after the purchase date.
Line 7b: Type of watercraft. List one: open, cabin, houseboat, sailboat, pontoon, PWC/jetski, paddleboat or other.

Step 4 — Exempt Transaction - Mark the applicable box. If the transaction is taxable, skip to Step 5.

	
a Charitable, religious, educational, or governmental organization with an active Illinois Department of Revenue exemption 	
			 number.
RUT-75 Instructions (R-01/24)

Printed by authority of the state of Illinois —
Web only, One copy

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b Rolling stock item for hire to haul persons or commodities in interstate commerce. Aircraft - provide FAA certificate of 	
			 authority number.
	
f Watercraft only - not required to be numbered under the Boat Registration and Safety Act and
•	 will not be used upon Illinois waters for more than 30 days in any calendar year; or
•	 regardless of time used upon Illinois waters, is either:
	
- owned by the United States, a State, or subdivision thereof; and used solely for official purposes and clearly 		
		 identifiable; or
	
- used exclusively as a ship’s lifeboat.

Step 5 — Figure your tax

Round to the nearest dollar: Drop amounts of less than 50 cents, and increase amounts of 50 cents or more to the next
highest dollar.
Line 1: Tax is based on the purchase price or fair market value amount. Enter the higher of the purchase price or fair market
value. Attach a copy of the purchase agreement/invoice which must have the purchase price and the tax previously paid clearly
and separately stated. For aircraft, you must also attach a copy of the FAA bill of sale. If you purchase or acquire a share of
an aircraft or watercraft, enter the share’s purchase price or fair market value. For watercraft, purchase price is defined as the
reasonable consideration paid for the watercraft received in money, cash, credits, property, services, etc., and including the
value of any motor sold with, or in conjunction with, the watercraft. When there is no stated purchase price, such as a gift or
trade, tax is imposed on the fair market value on the date the watercraft or the share of the watercraft was acquired or the date
the watercraft was brought into Illinois, whichever is later. IDOR may utilize contracted vendors to determine the validity of the
purchase price stated on your return.
In the case of a watercraft transfer between immediate family members (i.e., a spouse, parent, brother, sister, or child),
reasonable consideration ordinarily means the consideration paid, unless it appears that the primary motivation of the transfer
was the avoidance of tax. Enter this purchase price on Line 1. In the case of gifts between immediate family members, no tax
is due unless it appears that the primary motivation of the transfer was the avoidance of tax. If our review questions the amount
stated on Line 1, we have the authority to determine the fair market value through an independent valuation. We will bill you if
additional tax is owed, including penalties and interest.
Line 3: Provide the name of the state and the amount of sales or use tax you previously paid to that state. Credit is allowed
only if the tax previously paid was properly due and separately stated on the proof of tax payment that must be attached to
Form RUT-75.
Line 4: Subtract Line 3 from Line 2. This is the amount of tax that you owe. Make your remittance payable to “Illinois
Department of Revenue” and attach it to Form RUT-75.
You owe a late filing penalty if you do not file a processable return by the due date, a late payment penalty if you do not
pay the amount you owe by the original due date of the return, a bad check penalty if your remittance is not honored by your
financial institution, and a cost of collection fee if you do not pay the amount you owe within 30 days of the date printed on
a bill that we send you. For more information, see Publication 103, Penalties and Interest for Illinois Taxes, available on our
website at tax.illinois.gov.

Step 6 — Sign here

The purchaser and co-owner (if applicable) must sign Form RUT-75. Send your return and required attachments with your
application and fees for registration to the appropriate address below.
Aircraft:
	
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
	
DIVISION OF AERONAUTICS
	
ABRAHAM LINCOLN CAPITAL AIRPORT 	
	
1 LANGHORNE BOND DRIVE
	
SPRINGFIELD, IL 62707-8415
Watercraft:	
	
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
	
PO BOX 19226
	
SPRINGFIELD, IL 62794-9226

RUT-75 Instructions (R-01/24)

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