Domicile and Property Tax on the MH

[KenZ71]

Considering SD or TX for domicile based on 0 income tax. What about annual property tax or any other fees? Based on below SD will be 4% vs TX at 7.25% ( property + diesel surcharge)

Looks like SD is 4% per this link. How is the value determined?

Motor vehicles registered in the State of South Dakota are subject to the 4% motor vehicle excise tax. Mobile / Manufactured homes are subject to the 4% initial registration fee. All fees are assessed from purchase date regardless of when an applicant applies for title and registration.

TX in comparison is 6.25% per this link. How is the value determined in the Lone Star State?
The rate is 6.25 percent and is calculated on the purchase price of the vehicle. The taxable value of private-party purchases of used motor vehicles

Plus 1% for diesel
A surcharge applies to both new and used diesel-powered, on-road motor vehicles with a gross vehicle registered weight exceeding 14,000 pounds purchased inside or outside Texas. The surcharge also applies to a vehicle that is brought into Texas by a new resident. The rate is 1 percent for model years 1997 and later

Assuming, which is dangerous, all other factors are similar and not an issue. So SD is sounding like the winner. Added bonus - looks like no special driver's license issues in SD vs TX requiring an extra step (45 foot diesel pusher)

[Topperace]

Yeah, I think SD is little more RV friendlier than TX on the Taxes and Drivers License requirement - TX requires Non-Commercial CDL Class A license ...
Scheduling written test is decent, but can be tricky with schedule/availability of
practical driving test due to volume of processing at the stations.

I am currently working through the Class A license in Texas, and the Texas taxes set us back a bit in our savings.... hind site 20/20, should have picked SD for domicile...but were already Texas residency when retired from military.

[jaydee325]

I'm starting to think that a low tax state may not necessarily be the lowest cost state all in.

As always, the devil is in the details.

[jrs]

I agree with your choice of SD vs TX. The only downside to both is when we set up a domicile we ended up picking FL because we were both under 65 for medicare and at that time in late 2019 only FL offered PPO National Medical Plans. At this point FL might have also dropped PPO coverage.

[spuds]

Originally Posted by KenZ71

Considering SD or TX for domicile based on 0 income tax. What about annual property tax or any other fees? Based on below SD will be 4% vs TX at 7.25% ( property + diesel surcharge)

Looks like SD is 4% per this link. How is the value determined?

Motor vehicles registered in the State of South Dakota are subject to the 4% motor vehicle excise tax. Mobile / Manufactured homes are subject to the 4% initial registration fee. All fees are assessed from purchase date regardless of when an applicant applies for title and registration.

TX in comparison is 6.25% per this link. How is the value determined in the Lone Star State?
The rate is 6.25 percent and is calculated on the purchase price of the vehicle. The taxable value of private-party purchases of used motor vehicles

Plus 1% for diesel
A surcharge applies to both new and used diesel-powered, on-road motor vehicles with a gross vehicle registered weight exceeding 14,000 pounds purchased inside or outside Texas. The surcharge also applies to a vehicle that is brought into Texas by a new resident. The rate is 1 percent for model years 1997 and later

Assuming, which is dangerous, all other factors are similar and not an issue. So SD is sounding like the winner. Added bonus - looks like no special driver's license issues in SD vs TX requiring an extra step (45 foot diesel pusher)

Those are the initial taxes on a purchase registration. If you're "moving", but already own the motorhome, you need to look at that scenario instead. Beyond initial tags for the state, you have an annual renewal which (at least in TX) is weight-based not value-based. You'll want to factor that in.

[KenZ71]

Yes, I'm trying to figure out expenses in 1st year (registration) AND following years (property tax, use tax, or whatever it might be called)

Healthcare - not sure. I may continue working or not. In either case I am lucky I can do my job anywhere with an internet connection.

[TechWriter]

Originally Posted by jrs

At this point FL might have also dropped PPO coverage.

Nope. FL along with AK, AL, AR, CA, ND, and WY have nationwide ACA health plans, usually Blue Cross/Blue Shield.

FYI – FL has had ACA EPO, not EPO, health plans for a few years. These EPO plans offer nationwide networks too.

[texas.yankee]

Originally Posted by KenZ71

Yes, I'm trying to figure out expenses in 1st year (registration) AND following years (property tax, use tax, or whatever it might be called)

Healthcare - not sure. I may continue working or not. In either case I am lucky I can do my job anywhere with an internet connection.

There is NO ongoing taxes on vehicles in Texas. I'm not sure what state you're in currently (I'm guessing Cali maybe or even my old state of CT?), but TX does NOT charge property tax on anything besides land. Sales & use tax is only charged upon purchase. If you already own you RV, you'll pay to register it yearly and that is based on GVWR of the RV. Some counties (most) will require inspection to register.

Here's is that registration schedule. SCHEDULE OF TEXAS REGISTRATION FEES - TxDMV.gov

ETA, there's no diesel charges on non-commercial use vehicles, either.

[wog099]

You should contact the people at Escapees.com and get the straight scoop on all this. They can provide information or tell you where to get the info you need. There are probably other RV organizations that can help, I just know that the Escapees helped us and had all the guidance we needed.
Thanks,

[saddlesore]

Originally Posted by wog099

You should contact the people at Escapees.com and get the straight scoop on all this. They can provide information or tell you where to get the info you need. There are probably other RV organizations that can help, I just know that the Escapees helped us and had all the guidance we needed.
Thanks,

re: Escapees.. I FULLY CONCUR!
We Left Oregon [after 70 years] Due to their 9.9% income tax on our meager investments and retirement funding.. And their convoluted requirements for residency when one is a Full Timer and constantly on the move.
For the last 4 years, We have been SD residents [in all respects] thru the Escapees outfit both for our mail and "State Residency of Record" address.


Choose Wisely Pilgrim..

[TXiceman]

Texas does not have a personal property tax of vehicles or RVs. Last year our total fee for licensed on the F350 DRW and the 19,000# 5th wheel was a bit under $220.00. Insurance was only about $1700.00 for the two.

If you already own the motorhome/truck/trailer, Texas will take into account what you already paid as sales taxes on the vehicle. in figuring the fees.

Look at the Escapees site for information on setting up domicile legally wherever you plan to settle.

Ken

[saddlesore]

Originally Posted by jaydee325

I'm starting to think that a low tax state may not necessarily be the lowest cost state all in.

As always, the devil is in the details.

True.. Altho If You are a Constantly Traveling "Full Timer" that has no interest in owning real estate in SD/TX/FL [or anywhere else], the question of property taxes/school bonds/city operating costs etc.. are moot.
ie: If You Do Not like the Fishing, the Weather, the Neighbors, The Politic's... yada yada yada...
Just Turn the Key...

[computerguy]

Health insurance (Techwriter is correct, FL still has PPO and I have it and use in nationwide), registration fees, no income tax, ease of doing business (voting, DL and reg renewals, etc.) all have me staying with a domicile in FL through Escapees. Oh, there is the weather in winter which has me returning every (almost anyways) year to winter in Florida.

[FLJOE]

We picked FL for numerous reasons. Example, when we purchased a new 43' DP the registration was less than $60 per year.

After 65, depending on what county you are a resident in, you can get one of several medicare managed plans with zero deductables, free scripts, and in most cases your medicare premium kicked back each month.

FL makes many things very simple for full time folks who actually travel. To renew my driver's license I can do so 18 months early. Now that is convenient. Most of our license plate stickers expire while we are out on the road each year but it only takes me about 5 minutes online to renew and order new annual stickers. I could go on and on but you get the general idea.