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Boat appraisals for estate tax, prepared in accordance with IRS estate tax requirements (Form 706). AppraiseItNow provides defensible vessel valuations covering hull, engines, and equipment to support accurate estate reporting and minimize audit risk.
IRS Form 706 Qualified…I am looking forward to utilizing AppraiseItNow for many years to come
DEFENSIBLE, USPAP-COMPLIANT BOAT APPRAISAL REPORTS — QUALIFIED FOR THE IRS, PROBATE COURTS, AND ESTATE ATTORNEYS.
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Owner & CEO
Joe founded AppraiseItNow to make a certified, USPAP-compliant appraisal as simple to order as anything else online. A former Bain & Company strategy consultant, Joe leads the entire team and specializes in strategy, growth, and the firm's tech capabilities.
Vehicle Appraiser
CAGA Certified Appraiser since 2014, covering vehicles, boats, equipment, fine art, and collectibles. A classic-car restoration background informs her vehicle work, with reports prepared for insurance, divorce, and charitable contributions.
Client Success Manager
Manages each engagement from the first enquiry to the delivered report, and keeps you posted at every step along the way.
Certified Appraisers Guild of AmericaCertified Appraiser
The Appraisal FoundationAuthorized by Congress as the source of appraisal standardsWhen a boat owner passes away, the vessel must be valued at fair market value as of the date of death for inclusion in the gross estate reported on IRS Form 706. This requirement applies when the estate exceeds the federal exemption threshold, and boats are treated as tangible personal property under IRC Section 2031. Our marine vessel appraisal services cover everything from small recreational craft to large yachts and commercial charter vessels, producing detailed, IRS-compliant reports that hold up under audit scrutiny.
AppraiseItNow delivers appraisals both online and onsite across the United States, working with executors, estate attorneys, and personal representatives to meet the Form 706 filing deadline of nine months after the date of death. Our estate tax valuation services are carried out by credentialed appraisers who understand the specific documentation and methodology standards the IRS expects.
AppraiseItNow appraises a wide range of vessels for estate tax purposes, including:
What clients say we are known for
Across 80+ published AppraiseItNow reviews the picture is consistent: every one is from a client who paid us for an appraisal, and the three things they raise most often are that they would hire us again, how quickly we answer, and how much research is visible in the report.
From the start they were very responsive, price competitive, and had a quick turn around time. Thank you so much to Joe who was very sweet in responding to my emails; I am looking forward to utilizing AppraiseItNow for many years to come.
Very thorough and professional — great communication and outstanding service. Highly impressed with their work!
At fair market value on the date of death, and IRS Publication 561 says that except for inexpensive small boats, the value should rest on a marine surveyor's appraisal because physical condition is critical. A defensible file pairs the survey with photos, the HIN, engine hours, maintenance records, upgrades, and comparable sales.
No, not automatically. The standard is fair market value as of the date of death, so a post-death sale is just one piece of evidence, usable only if it happened close in time and the vessel's condition had not materially changed. Disputes typically focus on adjustments for engine hours, saltwater exposure, and cosmetic damage.
Because of basis consistency: under Treasury Regulation 1.1014-10, an heir's initial basis cannot exceed the boat's final estate tax value. An understated appraisal quietly shrinks the heir's basis and inflates taxable gain on a later sale, so the number filed with Form 706 has income tax consequences beyond the estate itself.
The market approach for standard production boats with good comparables, the cost approach for newer or heavily upgraded vessels, and the income approach for charter or revenue-producing craft. Method choice can move the value materially, which makes it a common line of attack when estate boat values are challenged.