Dockwa doesn't currently have a way to flag a boater's account as tax-exempt or to automatically waive tax during the booking process. We know this can create extra coordination for marinas working with government agencies, educational institutions, or other tax-exempt organizations — here's how to handle it in the meantime.
How to handle a tax-exempt reservation
The recommended workflow requires coordination between the boater and your marina team. There are two steps: the boater notifies you of their status, and you create the reservation in a way that excludes tax.
Step 1: Have the boater note their tax-exempt status
When a tax-exempt boater submits a reservation request through Dockwa, ask them to include a note in the Special Requests field indicating that they are a tax-exempt organization. They should also be prepared to provide supporting documentation (such as a tax exemption certificate) to your marina directly.
Tip: You can share this article directly with tax-exempt boaters so they know what to include when booking.
Step 2: Create the reservation using a Custom Rate with no tax
Once you've confirmed the boater's tax-exempt status, create or manage their reservation using a Custom Rate. This lets you set the rate and configure tax settings manually — so you can ensure no tax is applied to the reservation.
Open the reservation or create a new one using New Reservation.
In the Rates section, select Custom Rate from the dropdown.
Enter the appropriate rate and set the tax field to $0 or 0%.
Complete and confirm the reservation as usual.
For a detailed walkthrough of the Custom Rate workflow, see How to create a reservation using a Custom Rate.
A note on tax responsibilities
Dockwa does not remit sales tax on behalf of your marina — tax collection and compliance remain your responsibility. Before waiving tax for any boater, we recommend verifying their exemption documentation and consulting your own tax or legal advisor to ensure you're meeting your state and local obligations.
For more on how Dockwa handles sales tax generally, see Quick Guide to Sales Tax Calculation on Reservations.