Titling and Registration in another state

[60Vette]

Hi Folks:

I'll be bringing my RV home next week. In MA you pay the sales tax upon registration (6.25%) and every year an excise tax of 2.5%. Sales tax is painful enough but the excise tax EVERY year is onerous.

Has anyone titled and registered and insured their rigs in other than their home state to avoid these awful taxes? I pay income tax, monster property taxes, tax on 3 cars, tax on 2 boats, trailers, gasoline tax, taxes on everything I purchase so if I can avoid doing the same with the RV I wouldn't have a guilty bone in my body.

Florida has closed some loop holes. Perhaps Montana?

I would like to hear from someone who actually has THEIR RIG titled in this manner. Second hand info is just that.

Thanks,

60Vette

[RSchleder]

As a fellow Vette owner, I just gotta say that I think you're asking for trouble if you follow through with your plan!

[clyon51]

The only people that has pulled this off are full timers. They register all vehicles in one state. Their drivers licence also must be that state and they must have an established permament address, in that state.

The only other way I can think of is register the MH in a trusted friend or family members name. Then of course they would have to reside in a tax friendly state.

Anything else, you're in deep ca ca.

[pagosajoe]

New Mexico has a law providing NM registration for out of state owners - IF they buy and pick up the RV within the state of NM. You pay one-time sales taxes to NM on the original sale price, but renewals of registration are something like $100 +/- annually, and they mail you the plates. No tax avoidance, since you pay sales tax on the original purchase, and renewals are "reasonable" without additional taxes.

Not sure how other states look at this. We've looked at RVs in NM and the sales reps/managers confirm it to be true - checked with the NM Motor Vehicle Division, and they too confirm it.

Here's the NM law pertaining to registration:

Registration of RVs by non-residents (66-3-4A)
Contrary to our general rule, applications for registration of an RV do not require that the applicant be a New Mexico resident. Sec. 66-3-4(A)(1) provides that all applications presented to the division shall contain (emphasis added):

• for a vehicle other than a recreational vehicle, the name, bona fide New Mexico residence address and mail address of the owner or, if the owner is a firm, association or corporation, the name, bona fide New Mexico business address and mail address of the firm, association or corporation and
• for a recreational vehicle, the name, bona fide residence address and mail address of the owner and proof of delivery in New Mexico. (The applicant must actually take possession of the RV in New Mexico.)

Hope that helps.

[jzick]

We had several vehicles legally registered in tax friendly states when our businesses allowed us to do so. When we were living in it, our motorhome was registered under a Montana LLC. When we bought our home base in Florida, however, we could no longer legally do so, and paid Fl taxes, etc. If you are looking to do this personally it is very hard to do legally if you ever intend to bring the vehicle into your "home" state, and according to news articles, states have gotten very aggressive in tracking and penalizing those guilty of tax evasion. We are kind of wimpy about bending laws so our risk tolerance is low and we follow every rule we are aware of. Your risk tolerance may be higher and you may have options. Perhaps some legal advice might be in order.

[RustyJC]

Given that you're in Massachusetts, you really should read THIS before you decide.

Rusty

[Wayne M]

Ah! Taxachussetts!

I lived there the first 18 years of my life, but it was an accident of birth.

Now I just have to go back to visit my brother.

I find it odd that they have a tax on grocery food items, but not on clothing, then I think, wait, what a way to make money. Everyone has to eat.

[Francesca]

Originally Posted by pagosajoe

New Mexico has a law providing NM registration for out of state owners - IF they buy and pick up the RV within the state of NM. You pay one-time sales taxes to NM on the original sale price, but renewals of registration are something like $100 +/- annually, and they mail you the plates. No tax avoidance, since you pay sales tax on the original purchase, and renewals are "reasonable" without additional taxes.

Not sure how other states look at this. We've looked at RVs in NM and the sales reps/managers confirm it to be true - checked with the NM Motor Vehicle Division, and they too confirm it.

Here's the NM law pertaining to registration:

Registration of RVs by non-residents (66-3-4A)
Contrary to our general rule, applications for registration of an RV do not require that the applicant be a New Mexico resident. Sec. 66-3-4(A)(1) provides that all applications presented to the division shall contain (emphasis added):

• for a vehicle other than a recreational vehicle, the name, bona fide New Mexico residence address and mail address of the owner or, if the owner is a firm, association or corporation, the name, bona fide New Mexico business address and mail address of the firm, association or corporation and
• for a recreational vehicle, the name, bona fide residence address and mail address of the owner and proof of delivery in New Mexico. (The applicant must actually take possession of the RV in New Mexico.)

Hope that helps.

What about the "bona fide New Mexico address"? (see emphasis, above)

In any case, what one State lets one do has no effect whatsoever on the requirements imposed in/by one's home State.

The only way to avoid taxes imposed by one's State of residence is to lie.
Some folks do this by setting up fake corporations elsewhere, others do it by using a friendly out-of-state address...there are other ways, I'm sure.

Do be careful to consider all possible angles before heading down that slippery slope- if the rig isn't paid for the lender will object; insurance may be difficult to obtain; and if you get caught you'll have to pay up in your home State without getting a single dime back from your "host" State. Which also won't "defend" your registration.

[60Vette]

Well I appreciate everyone's input. Hey Rusty, do you get the smugness and self congratulations of the bureaucrats as they report how successful they were at discovering folks avoiding Massachusetts taxes?

Our esteemed US Senator, John Kerry bought a multi million dollar yacht and tried to claim he berthed it in Newport, RI thus avoiding taxes. The uproar was such that he finally paid the taxes. Well, he didn't, his millionairess wife Momma T paid for it.

I guess I'll just pay the bastards.

Thanks folks,

60Vette

[W4RLR]

Originally Posted by 60Vette

I guess I'll just pay the bastards.

Thanks folks,

60Vette

You could always move. Our permanent address is a RV park outside of Chattanooga. The driver's license bureau was cool with that. Our cell phone bill going to a local post office box counted as a utility. The rent receipts for the site showed we lived here in our RV. We even received voter cards.

[MaxTurner1]

I am and have had mine registered and titles in Montana. Try this link. Any questions... call them.

Montana RV Registration | MT Registered Agents | Tax-Free Montana LLC : Deer Creek Corporate Services

[WeatherTodd]

Not hard to get a PO Box in another state. Usually a mail box service that has a physical address will suffice for purposes of mailing and it runs about $20/month. Most states have a provision for temporary residents.
I know CA & NY target out of state plates for purposes of trying to catch "tax evaders".

[Gary RVRoamer]

It no problem to title it out of state if you and the motorhome are not staying in Massachusetts, but if want to continue to live in MA and keep the RV there, you better pay the MA taxes on it. Anything else is considered tax fraud by nearly every state.

[PHESPE]

Originally Posted by Francesca

What about the "bona fide New Mexico address"? (see emphasis, above)

In any case, what one State lets one do has no effect whatsoever on the requirements imposed in/by one's home State.

The only way to avoid taxes imposed by one's State of residence is to lie.
Some folks do this by setting up fake corporations elsewhere, others do it by using a friendly out-of-state address...there are other ways, I'm sure.

Do be careful to consider all possible angles before heading down that slippery slope- if the rig isn't paid for the lender will object; insurance may be difficult to obtain; and if you get caught you'll have to pay up in your home State without getting a single dime back from your "host" State. Which also won't "defend" your registration.

Read carefully - the passage you quote does not say anything about
"bona fide New Mexico address"? It just says they require your home address - be it in any other state or ??

• for a recreational vehicle, the name, bona fide residence address and mail address of the owner and proof of delivery in New Mexico. (The applicant must actually take possession of the RV in New Mexico.)

PHESPE