Community Forums

FaithBowls · 05-26-2016, 10:19 AM

You can no longer keep vehicles out of ca and bring them in later to avoid use tax. They closed those loopholes and if you try the 90 day technicality you risk a state audit. If you live in ca, you have to register in ca and pay use tax.

Mike and Cha · 05-26-2016, 10:40 AM

Actually California is still better than some States when it comes to this. Not that I like paying all the taxes/fees ect, but in some States you pay a Property Tax of up to several thousand dollars, in addition to the Vehicle registration fees. I'm not sure I would even buy a MH in some of those states.

pink toaster · 05-26-2016, 10:57 AM

Thanx everyone! OK.... so just like when shopping for a car, I will add that estimated 10% on for tax, title, license! Yuck! I assume the dealership takes care of all that just like a car dealership would. I've seen mention of a doc prep fee on some websites.

I had completely forgotten about the yearly registration...

so thanx for the reminder on that! I get angry at DMV every time our vehicle registrations show up in the mail.... Ridiculous! I'll start preparing myself now for a ginormous registration for our future motorhome!

Hit_the_Rhod · 05-26-2016, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pink toaster

Thanx everyone! OK.... so just like when shopping for a car, I will add that estimated 10% on for tax, title, license! Yuck! I assume the dealership takes care of all that just like a car dealership would. I've seen mention of a doc prep fee on some websites.

I had completely forgotten about the yearly registration...

so thanx for the reminder on that! I get angry at DMV every time our vehicle registrations show up in the mail.... Ridiculous! I'll start preparing myself now for a ginormous registration for our future motorhome!

Just smile and pay it!

After all, they use all that money to keep the roads is such great repair, smooth, and free of potholes and bumps!

Gavenger · 05-26-2016, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hit_the_Rhod

Just smile and pay it!

After all, they use all that money to keep the roads is such great repair, smooth, and free of potholes and bumps!

LOL

alvo · 05-26-2016, 12:52 PM

Some interesting trivia:

Peter Falk (Columbo) is responsible for California residents having to pay sales tax on their out-of-state purchases. He used to tell the story of how, before acting, he worked for the state collecting unpaid taxes. One day he was looking at the boats in the marina and realized that many of them never had tax collected on them, a loophole that never had been addressed.

joshuajim · 05-26-2016, 01:46 PM

One little know item about CA license fees is that if you had registered a vehicle in CA and then moved to another state and re-register, you can send your old plates back to CA DMV and they will prorate credit you for the balance of your registration year.

Mr_D · 05-26-2016, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FaithBowls

You can no longer keep vehicles out of ca and bring them in later to avoid use tax. They closed those loopholes and if you try the 90 day technicality you risk a state audit. If you live in ca, you have to register in ca and pay use tax.

WA also did that but only for boats and RV's but left it in place for cars and PU's. Cars and PU's are a necessity whereas boats and RV's are a luxury.

FaithBowls · 05-26-2016, 06:32 PM

I don't know if peter falk can take that credit. Thousands of people used to register vehicles in oregon or nevada to avoid ca tax as recently as 15 years ago. But ca cracked down on it with the "use tax" meaning if you reside here and you have a vehicle here, you pay the tax here. That stopped the out of state practice. That's why you see few nevada plates in ca these days. These days i think the only easy way is to change residency to south dakota.

Terbeau · 05-26-2016, 07:03 PM

FaithBowls: Speaking of So. Dakota residency; I will be as soon as my CA home sells and we find a motor home to buy. Is it legally possible to buy a vehicle in CA and register it in SD as an SD resident and avoid the CA taxes? All the Board of Equalization (boy, if that isn't a bunch of government-speak) PUB 52 deals with vehicles coming into or remaining in-state along with their owners.

Gavenger · 05-26-2016, 07:22 PM

IF you have a SD license prior to purchase. All vehicle dealers are required to photocopy your license at time of purchase. CA DMV will go after you for registration and use taxes if you have a CA DL. Regardless of where you take possession

cpaulsen · 05-27-2016, 06:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FaithBowls

You can no longer keep vehicles out of ca and bring them in later to avoid use tax. They closed those loopholes and if you try the 90 day technicality you risk a state audit. If you live in ca, you have to register in ca and pay use tax.

Totally correct......they stopped that 90 -180 day out of state loophole about 3 years ago.

FaithBowls · 05-27-2016, 06:25 AM

Yes if you're selling your house and willing to change residency, do that first. You can choose your state of residence. SD seems to be the quickest and friendliest to full timers. They do have taxes but it's more like 5% I think. We didn't do it because we'll be staying in california most of the time anyway.