Sales tax question | FerrariChat

Sales tax question

Discussion in 'Ferrari Discussion (not model specific)' started by Bee Jay, Mar 20, 2007.

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  1. Bee Jay

    Bee Jay Formula Junior

    Apr 14, 2004
    750
    Lompoc, Ca.
    Full Name:
    Bernard E. Jones
    I'm buying a 348 from Carmel Motors in Indianapolis. They are insisting that I pay 6% sales tax even though I'm having the car shipped to me here in California. They say that I pay 6% in Indiana, then I will pay the additional 1.5% here in Cali. when I register the car. Cali. will collect the 6% from Indaina. Any Cali. DMV experts out there that can give me some advice. My nightmare is I pay 6%, then Cali. will try to collect 7.5% when I register.
    Bee Jay
     
  2. VTChris

    VTChris F1 World Champ

    Aug 21, 2005
    13,259

    I don't know about Indiana, but I bought a Porsche for Chicago, I paid the tax here. Same with the 348 that came from NC. Tax was paid here at DMV.
    Maybe Indy is different?

    Haven't come accross this before.
     
  3. DMOORE

    DMOORE Formula 3

    Aug 23, 2005
    1,720
    San Diego
    Full Name:
    Darrell
    Every time I have purchased a car, motorcoach or boat out of state, they have me sign a statement of facts ,saying the vehicle is leaving the state and will be registered in my home state. Maybe someone in Indiana can give insight into their state requirement.

    PS. Check to see if a bill of lading out of state will suffice.

    Darrell.
     
  4. Pranucci

    Pranucci Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    Mar 17, 2005
    1,127
    Carpinteria, CA
    I bought a car in Colorado and had it shipped to California, paid no sales tax in CO., but Arnie got his 7.75%. That was from a private party, but I wouldn't believe a car salesman in Indy about CA sales tax. You might have to file for a refund in Indy after you register and pay in CA. Call the Franchise Tax Board in both CA and Indy before you get charged twice.
     
  5. ylshih

    ylshih Shogun Assassin
    Honorary Owner

    Mar 21, 2004
    20,408
    Northern CA
    Full Name:
    Yin
    This sounds like a way for the dealer to make another 6%. Definitely check it out.
     
  6. Ace503

    Ace503 Formula 3

    Feb 22, 2006
    1,492
    Full Name:
    Korben Dallas
    +1, try posting this in the midwest section to get the input of some people that live there.
     
  7. ZINGARA 250GTL

    ZINGARA 250GTL F1 World Champ
    Owner

    Jun 21, 2002
    17,499
    PA
    Full Name:
    Ken
    Have you called your CA DMV and/or your revenue division? Couldn't hurt. When we bought our boat in NC we paid no sales tax. We paid the PA tax when we registered it. BTW, no matter what happens, save all "big ticket" sales receipts i.e, car, refrigerator, big TV, etc. Federal tax law allows you to substitute that total for your state and and local income tax withheld if it exceeds that figure (they use a table). Could be some recoup there. For a retired guy, I saved this year because I made several large purchases including my 575M. Ckeck with your tax advisor.
     
  8. mfennell70

    mfennell70 Formula Junior

    Nov 3, 2003
    608
    Middletown, NJ
    FWIW, I bought my GT3 from Long Island and I live in NJ. They collected the sales tax and I presented the receipt to my DMV, who said it was unusual but not unheard of. Of course, NY and NJ are kind of close together...

    I called the NJ DMV before I went forward. I would call yours.
     
  9. PhilNotHill

    PhilNotHill Two Time F1 World Champ
    Owner

    Jul 3, 2006
    27,855
    Aspen CO 81611
    Full Name:
    FelipeNotMassa
    Excellent idea. And get the answers in writing from any gov't agency. Very important. You are guilty until you prove yourself innocent when it comes to paying tax.
     
  10. Jeff328

    Jeff328 Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    Sep 5, 2006
    2,293
    WI
    I bought my 328 from a dealer in Chicago and didn't pay sales tax on it to them. I paid WI sales tax on the car when I registered it.

    Years ago I bought a pickup truck in CO and they charged me sales tax then when I registered the truck in CA I showed them the receipt from the CO dealer and they just charged me the difference.
     
  11. Bullfighter

    Bullfighter Two Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Jan 26, 2005
    22,594
    Gates Mills, Ohio
    Full Name:
    Jon
    I don't even think I had to sign that when I bought my car in NC. Ditto the Porsche I bought out of MO. Both cars came with temporary tags.

    I paid sales tax at the DMV when I registered them, brought my purchase docs to verify price paid. (Bought Vaseline beforehand...)

    Good advice.
     
  12. spike308

    spike308 F1 Rookie
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Nov 8, 2003
    4,714
    Austin TX!
    Full Name:
    Mike Z
    Bought my 308 from Colorado, got to pay "the man" when registering it here in Illinois.
     
  13. cforg308

    cforg308 Karting

    Nov 16, 2004
    98
    Stroudsburg PA
    Full Name:
    Chris
    I bought several cars and motorcycles out of state including my 348. I always pay the tax when register the car at the dmv. It's the only way I will buy. Friends of mine have had nightmares trying to get plates & explaining that they already paid the tax at the dealer. Just pay the tax when you register, it's easy and very clean. No headaches!
     
  14. mgtr1990

    mgtr1990 Formula 3

    Mar 30, 2005
    1,580
    Naples Florida
    Full Name:
    Martin Graham
    Likewise I have bought several cars out of state and only on one occasion which was a brand new Vette did I pay sales tax in the State I purchased the car from but themn turned around and claimed it as a tax payment when I registered that car in the State I was living in and an out of State tax payment when I did my taxes.

    Martin
     
  15. Husker

    Husker F1 World Champ

    Dec 31, 2003
    11,792
    western hemisphere
    First of all, congratulations.

    There's no way you owe tax to Indy when you live in CA and the car will be a CA registered car. They're filling you full of prunes. Car taxes are due when the car is registered, and payable to the state in which the car will be registered. Theoretically, if you never registered (nor drove) the car, no taxes would ever be due, period.
     
  16. kizdan

    kizdan F1 Veteran

    Dec 31, 2003
    5,505
    This is 100% correct.
     
  17. Island Time

    Island Time F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Dec 18, 2004
    11,987
    E. TN
    Full Name:
    David
    Sounds like dealer policy to me, not STATE LAW.

    I've run into this myself, when I've refused their "insistence", to date, they've always backed down.

    If I wanted this car, and the dealer refuses to let you pay the tax in which it's going, I'd pass, unless I was willing to pay tax in both states.

    Trouble is, no matter what cali dmv says, I'd be afraid of trusting them when it came time to "hold them to their word".

    just me...
     
  18. mambodave

    mambodave Formula Junior

    Jun 3, 2005
    531
    Charlotte NC
    Full Name:
    Dave
    Call the DMV in both states and Ask. Im sure Indiana DMV would be happy to answer this. Anytime Ive bought a car in any state (not indiana though) I paid MY states when I registered it. Most states also cap it at $300 or $500 on autos also. Ive not heard of 6%
     
  19. ZINGARA 250GTL

    ZINGARA 250GTL F1 World Champ
    Owner

    Jun 21, 2002
    17,499
    PA
    Full Name:
    Ken
    God forbid you should register in PA.
     
  20. Bee Jay

    Bee Jay Formula Junior

    Apr 14, 2004
    750
    Lompoc, Ca.
    Full Name:
    Bernard E. Jones
    I just got of the phone with the DMV. I did 30 pushups and read the entire newspaper while on hold. Some Sacremento radio station playing. But they agreed. I pay the tax (6%) in Indianapolis, and when I register the car here in Cali., I bring proof of purchase price and tax paid. I will have to pay an additional 1.75% only. The lady was very nice and assured me that I would not have to pay 7.75% on top of the 6%.
    Bee Jay
     
  21. gblogger

    gblogger Formula 3

    May 2, 2004
    1,612
    N.E. Florida
    Full Name:
    Gee Blogger

    I've purchased cars in a number of states (private and dealers). NO dealer has ever asked for sales taxes to be paid UNLESS I decide to drive the car from the lot. If you drive off the lot, you pay only because you are 'using' the roads, etc..

    A dealer I have used here in Florida will never collect taxes to cars shipped out of state. And, there are states whose sales taxes DO NOT reciprocate to other states.
     
  22. UConn Husky

    UConn Husky F1 Rookie

    Nov 11, 2006
    4,425
    CT
    Full Name:
    Jay
    Same here, just purchased in Fla, no sales tax paid there. Car was shipped to me in CT. IF I drove it off the lot in Fla. they said I would've had to pay tax there, then I'd be covered. You can't be double taxed on a purchase.
     
  23. gsm348

    gsm348 Karting

    Nov 7, 2003
    138
    Chicago
    Full Name:
    Greg
    When you paid the IL tax, did the IL DMV call it "usage tax" that was an incremental charge based off the sell price such as when registering a private party purchased vehicle or was it a flat percentage like state sales tax?
     
  24. GCalo

    GCalo F1 Veteran

    Sep 15, 2004
    7,645
    Northern California
    Full Name:
    Greg Calo
    Dude,

    That is absurd!

    Don't pay them a penny of sales tax! California will not recognize that payment!

    Tell them you'll pay thier 6% at the DMV when you register the car here!

    Want to buy a bridge?
     
  25. shill288

    shill288 Formula Junior

    Feb 24, 2005
    900
    West Coast
    Full Name:
    Steve Hill
    Bee Jay,

    What you were told is correct. If you do pay the sales tax in another state, CA will credit you for that tax and you only pay the difference.

    However, you shouldn't have to pay the sales tax in the other State. Dealers sometimes do this out of laziness. For a dealer to not be responsible for their State's sales tax, they have to get a permit, in CA it's $25, that is signed by a bonded transportation company that the vehicle is being shipped out of State. The Dealer has to submit that permit with the other sales goodies to the DMV. A lot of Dealers just don't want the hassle.

    Having a large collection of cars, and not wanting to always pay sales tax, I'm a licensed Dealer in California and have abide by all the laws. Carmel Motors is not yanking your chain, you will not have to pay sales/use tax twice. By the way, there are Federal Laws about this double taxation issue, that's why the States can't do it. Kind of complicated and they probably go back to the Boston Tea Party, but they're there.

    Steve
     

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