Bagged. Oh, I'll bet he's livid. "Little people" pay taxes...U.S. Sen. John Kerry, the owner of a new, super-luxe 76-foot yacht, is not dodging a six-figure Massachusetts tax bill by docking the Isabel in Rhode Island and will pony up to the state if "any taxes are owed," a spokesman for the alleged tax-skipping skipper said.
Actually, Taaaaraysaaa will "pony up". Kerry wouldn't pony up on a three beer bar tab.
And it appears the senior senator may be on the hook for more than $500,000 in state and local taxes because Kerry tied his toney tub up in Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket waters within six months of buying her. The sexy sloop, which Kerry purchased in March and is currently docking in Portsmouth, R.I., was spotted in the Nantucket Boat Basin over the Fourth of July holiday. Teresa Heinz, Kerry's wife, owns a haute home on the island's waterfront.
Mr. Ego wanted to show it off, eh? Heh...heh...heh...
The Friendship yacht, designed by Ted Fontaine of Portsmouth but built in New Zealand,
... building the luxury yachts that America won't build ...
also sailed into Edgartown on Martha's Vineyard, according to sources. Kerry was seen coming ashore off the Isabel on the town dock July 16 as he made his way to an event at the Harborview Hotel .
Look at her! Isn't she beautiful!
Under law, if a boat owner berths the vessel in Massachusetts waters within six months of purchasing the boat, there's a "presumption of use," and the owner must fork over the 6.25 percent sales tax to the commonwealth. Local excise taxes also are due. Sources said Isabel sold for something in the neighborhood of $7 million. That means Kerry would owe approximately $437,500 to his cash-strapped home state. Nantucket, his summer playground, would be due annual excise taxes of about $70,000.
You idiot! You had to show off your new toy!
I'm sorry, Taaaraysaaa. Can you write me a check for half a million dollars, schnookums? Pretty please?
"Sen. Kerry and his family always comply with tax law, and if any taxes are owed, of course, they will be paid," said Kerry's chief of staff David Wade . "As I said yesterday, the Isabel is based in Newport at the Newport Shipyard for longterm maintenance, upkeep and charter purposes, not tax reasons."
...wink-wink.