Texas Emissions Reduction Program (TERP)

[slabman]

I just registered my coach in Texas and "got" to pay another 1% tax( in addition to normal sales tax) for this so-called "TERP" program. It's apparently a way to collect funding from all us diesel owners who buy motorhomes over 14,000#. The funding goes to businesses who upgrade their power equipment to lower their emissions produced. I guess since I bought a vehicle and paid extra to have the DEF emissions technology on it, I STILL get to contribute? I have purchased several diesels over the years and never heard of this tax. Is anyone else out there aware of this tax/program?

[Deep Water D]

Two words: South Dakota.

[TXiceman]

https://www.tceq.texas.gov/publicati...388_index.html

I read through some of these articles and it seems to be aimed at commercial and industrial applications, not private RVs.

You need to call the head quarters in Austin and ask for clarification.

Ken

[Dutch Star Don]

All the states, especially California, where I live, are suddenly realizing the push to electric and more efficient vehicles cut into their gas tax budget. In California, they solved it by raising the tax on fuel, .60 cents a gallon and a $1000.00 additional DMV charge on electric vehicles. You would think someone in government would occasionally foresee these issues, before pushing their agendas.

Oregon is doing something similar. The better the mileage your vehicle gets, the more you'll pay for vehicle fees.

[slabman]

Thanks, Iceman. I think you are spot-on. Those women in the rego office didn't seem to really understand what they were doing...huddling amongst themselves, private discussions, changing responses to my questions, etc. It was like I was the first guy to register a motorhome that was purchased out-of-state. So this is what I found on their website:

Under the Tax Code, Sec. 152.0215, diesel-powered motor homes and RVs are exempt from the Texas Emissions Reduction Plan Sales Tax Surcharge, if the vehicle weighs over 14,000 lbs. and is not used commercially or for the
production of income.

It would seem a diesel-powered motorhome that I own is NOT subject to that tax...hello???? Those b@$#@%#$! I wonder how many other RVers have been bilked out of another 1% by these guys not knowing what they are doing?

Looks like I need to put in a call to the guys in Austin first thing Monday AM.

Thanks for the help, gang!!!!

[txcpl]

RV's are exempt from that $1000 tax. Contact the county courthouse where you paid the tax and demand a refund.

This happened to us, but I did get a refund. Then write a letter to the state DMV explaining your situation. The state will get involved here, at least they did in my situation.

Keep us posted on your progress.

Thanks

[steve52]

Sounds like it's time for Texas to send a bulletin to their DMV offices clarifying this rule...

[slabman]

Karen and Allen, I plan on contacting them on Monday (Can't wait to get into this again), but are you saying this may take a while? I was hoping to drive up to the Tax assessor office and get my refund on the spot.

Oh, and yes, I did send a letter to the State, explaining my situation. Thanks again!

[redcolorado]

I had a similar issue with Texas when I went to renew my MH tags a couple of years ago. The tags on the MH were transferred from a truck that I was selling. The tags were Disabled Veteran with the wheel chair emblem. The lady at the tax office said I could not have DV tags on a MH. I knew this was incorrect. I also know it does no good to argue with the government. So I went home and looked up the vehicle code, printed it out and went back to the tax office. The tax code says you cannot have the wheel chair emblem on a vehicle weighing over 16,500 lbs. I showed the print out to them, they checked with their supervisor and still called Austin to verify I was correct. Solution was we switched plates with my present toad that had DV tags but did not have the wheel chair emblem. Bottom line the tax people do not know all the laws. If you are correct look it up and prove it, do not argue. I have found not all counties in Texas enforce this. I have a friend in El Paso that has DV tags with the wheel chair emblem on his MH and has no problem renewing.

[txcpl]

Hopefully you can get your refund quickly. I cannot say exactly how your county will respond. Counties are quick to take your money, but could be slow to return your money. Be prepared. If the transaction occurred in December, it may have to come from the state. Each county is different. If you have any difficulty, you might contact your County Commissioner or Judge. They may be able to move things through the pipeline quicker. From my experience, Tarrant County is slower than molasses in February.

[captdbg]

Thanks for the post If I haven’t seen this thread last night I would have paid the 1 percent tax today not knowing about it They tried to charge me for it

[hewebb]

Our good friends and us decided to purchase motor homes and travel together. They got therse first and he warned me about the additional tax he had to pay for the diesel. When we bought ours we did not have to pay that tax. I told him about the private exemption and that he should not have had to pay it. He never did get a credit.
Over the years I have learned that most Texas government employees do not know the laws and procedures, except the very normal.

[slabman]

I neglected to post a follow-up to my situation. I went back to the Tax Assessors office and they did credit me with some of my overpayment, but I had to wait for about a month for the remainder to come from the State...the portion I paid for with a credit card.

Yes, with all the rules and regs we have burdened ourselves with, these clerical types can never know all of them because they probably never stay long enough to learn them before moving on. WE get to be the victims of these situations. It sure does pay to have a forum like this to disburse the information.

[outlaw5067]

I'm glad I stumbled across this... DW & I are in the market for a DP and I have no faith in the knowledge of my county office...