Community Forums

USMCRET · 03-05-2017, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blackcabby

Based on my experiences in other states, this makes sense. I keep seeing people post about Prince William because they don't tax motorhome stored in their county as personal property.

That just doesn't sound right. Are you not reporting something that you are required to to your home county? If you don't register it in PW county, how is the county in which you registered it going to overlook their share of taxes?

Can y'all please explain this a little further, or is it one of those little omissions you hope not to get caught on...

Thanks for all who have replied - this has been a very helpful conversation...

Interesting that you asked. I attended an RV show yesterday that had a booth from a storage outfit in PW county and I began asking questions. If you wish to inquire further, the firm is called Holly Acres. Store Your Boat or RV at Holly Acres! Holly Acres RV and Marine Woodbridge, VA (800) 800-7537

In this scenario, when you purchase or bring the RV into the state, you would register it with PW county. That is different from the DMV registration. You get a county sticker or something that shows the RV is registered in PW. That starts the ball rolling. Then there are various other forms you fill out, the details of which I don't recall.

At any rate, it is totally legal. My county (Spotsylvania) clearly states that RVs and motor vehicles are taxed based on where they are garaged. My current coach is registered and garaged here. You can bet my next one won't be.

MisterT · 03-05-2017, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TomandGloria

Autos are given a break (50%) but everything else is taxed at the full rate. Each county/city determines the rate of the assessed value.
Throw the license fee yearly, about $35.00 (I think) plus inspection fee about $16.00 and you are camping in the driveway!

yes, Georgia just moved several years ago from an 'Ad valorem' tax on vehicles, including trailers and all RVs, which was based on the 'actual cash value' (at least in their minds) each year, to a new TAVT one-time fee. The new fee, which REPLACES any sales tax, is about the same as the sales tax would have been, but is good for the long term because as long as you then own the item, you only pay the Tag Fee from then on. : )

but, of course, Motorhomes and larger vehicles are assessed an additional 'Heavy Vehicle' tax on top of that - but it's still less in the long run.
Also, like many state I presume, Georgia collects the new TAVT 'tax' fee ANYWHERE you purchase a vehicle, no matter what state.

ralphie · 03-05-2017, 11:25 AM

Welcome to VA and PP taxes. When we decided to move to FL after many years in VA, I did my best cost-analysis comparison. Each state has its own idiosyncrasies, some with higher or lower sales taxes on vehicles including RVs, state income taxes and higher or lower insurance and electric costs. Turns out that SWFL with no income or PP taxes, lower vehicle insurance and higher sales taxes and higher power costs, is slightly less overall than VA for us. Bottom line: You're going to pay, one way or the other.

gtsum2 · 03-05-2017, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by USMCRET

Interesting that you asked. I attended an RV show yesterday that had a booth from a storage outfit in PW county and I began asking questions. If you wish to inquire further, the firm is called Holly Acres. Store Your Boat or RV at Holly Acres! Holly Acres RV and Marine Woodbridge, VA (800) 800-7537

In this scenario, when you purchase or bring the RV into the state, you would register it with PW county. That is different from the DMV registration. You get a county sticker or something that shows the RV is registered in PW. That starts the ball rolling. Then there are various other forms you fill out, the details of which I don't recall.

At any rate, it is totally legal. My county (Spotsylvania) clearly states that RVs and motor vehicles are taxed based on where they are garaged. My current coach is registered and garaged here. You can bet my next one won't be.

Thanks for sharing. I think I'll give them a ring

777 Driver · 03-05-2017, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blackcabby

I keep seeing people post about Prince William because they don't tax motorhome stored in their county as personal property.

That just doesn't sound right. Are you not reporting something that you are required to to your home county? If you don't register it in PW county, how is the county in which you registered it going to overlook their share of taxes?

Can y'all please explain this a little further, or is it one of those little omissions you hope not to get caught on...

Although it may not "sound right", to the best of my understanding, it is right.

The VA registration form requires you to provide the GVWR of the vehicle being registered. Further, it requires you to declare where the vehicle is "principally garaged". If the GVWR is in excess of 10,000 pounds, the principally garaged county is indicated on the registration and that county's tax assessor's office is notified. In my case, the GVWR is in excess of 10,000 pounds and I store the motorhome (principally garaged) in Prince William County.

Prince William County requires that a vehicle principally garaged in Prince William County must be registered with the County. Currently, they charge a $24/year fee for that registration. They don't tax RV's as personal property.

IF (emphasis added) the vehicle has a GVWR greater than 10,000 pounds AND it is principally garaged in Prince William County, my county of residence (Stafford) doesn't have any right to tax it. The personal property is not in Stafford County.

No "little omission". Everything is done in the full light of day.

Hope that makes it all "sound right" to you.

Take care,
Stu

ralphie · 03-06-2017, 09:36 AM

Similarity in Stafford County last I knew. No PP taxes on my boat stored and operated there. It was clearly "garaged" there but I lived 60 miles away in Warren County.

777 Driver · 03-06-2017, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ralphie

Similarity in Stafford County last I knew. No PP taxes on my boat stored and operated there. It was clearly "garaged" there but I lived 60 miles away in Warren County.

As I understand, from a friend who has had his boat docked at a marina in Stafford County for many years, that's a relatively recent change to Stafford County's tax. He and several boat owning friends along with, more importantly, several marina owners, successfully lobbied the Stafford Board of Supervisors to revise their treatment of boats. The marinas were getting hammered because nobody was docking in Stafford.

I believe that aircraft hangared in Stafford County also escape property tax because of the effect of Prince William's tax treatment of aircraft.

Take care,
Stu

-Gramps- · 03-13-2017, 03:32 PM

Former resident of Portsmouth, no boat tax but a very high personal property tax on RVS, so I moved my garage location to Galax VA where we own a lot. That was good for two years then they (Grayson County) raised the tax on RVs by fifty percent with a note to that effect taped to the courthouse door, so I moved my garage location back to Portsmouth. Then I retired and moved car, residence, drivers license and motorhome to Crestview, Florida, a place I have never been to and has no personal property taxes.

rgvtexan · 03-13-2017, 05:56 PM

I was born in VA a long, long time ago. But Washington is my home.
In My county

Vehicle Use Tax is one time 8.00% on the cost minus trade in
Sales Tax of 7.75%
Property Tax of .88%
No Income Tax

I'll stay in the PNW

Charles L · 03-14-2017, 05:18 PM

So I have not registered my rv yet. Temp tag from Florida. If I park it at my home in Chesapeake, VA. what % am I likely to pay? 75k x % =?

Mr_D · 03-14-2017, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rgvtexan

I was born in VA a long, long time ago. But Washington is my home.
In My county

Vehicle Use Tax is one time 8.00% on the cost minus trade in
Sales Tax of 7.75%
Property Tax of .88%
No Income Tax

I'll stay in the PNW

You must be in a lower cost area of the state, here in Clark County our sales tax is 8.4% and vehicle sales/use tax is over 9% of the difference.

NealC · 03-14-2017, 05:48 PM

I heard about Holly Acres too and had it not been for that I would not have bought/ordered my RV. Been reading this thread carefully as I also live in Chesterfield country. Anyone know how/where to register in PW county as I plan to do that right away upon taking delivery. I have no desire to be paying XX,000 in retaxes every year. I'm hoping personal property taxes are done away with someday, even my business I have to keep paying taxes yearly on furniture, computers, etc. that I already paid tax on when buying it. Can you imagine how the economy would be stimulated if pp tax was abolished??

Brianb131 · 03-14-2017, 05:56 PM

I live in Loudoun County. The personal property tax rate is 4.2% of the value of any vehicle garaged in the county. Our HOA will not let us park RVs in our driveway or on the street. As most other RV owners in Loudoun, Prince William storage makes sense.
From what I have heard, Loudoun and Fairfax would rather not have the RVs parked in the county.

ageishecker · 03-14-2017, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NealC

I heard about Holly Acres too and had it not been for that I would not have bought/ordered my RV. Been reading this thread carefully as I also live in Chesterfield country. Anyone know how/where to register in PW county as I plan to do that right away upon taking delivery. I have no desire to be paying XX,000 in retaxes every year. I'm hoping personal property taxes are done away with someday, even my business I have to keep paying taxes yearly on furniture, computers, etc. that I already paid tax on when buying it. Can you imagine how the economy would be stimulated if pp tax was abolished??

On your application for registration there will be a question about where the vehicle will be principally garaged. Whatever you say there will determine the taxing authority. Just be sure that is really where the vehicle will spend most of its time.