More info: I payed Ca. Tax on the vehicle for that sale price.
Now, Mn. wants to charge me 7.5% on the difference on what I payed for it and what their books say it’s worth.
Geez.
Yep. Shouldn’t have paid CA tax since you don’t live there. As to the value, they are the govt and that is life.
I’ve known of a couple of cases like that over my life. Generally, some states (limited number)...have a law they put into effect that guarantees the pricing at or near the Blue-Book price. It’s a protective practice because they know that some guys arrange a deal where they pay $1k less on the book price but slip the $1k under the table with no receipt. So the state is merely protecting itself on getting what they perceive as “their fair share”.
I would suspect, unless you can show damage or a reason why the pricing was under the Blue-Book value....they’ve got you.
The clerk said "That sounds too cheap". I told her the transmission was in a box in the trunk in about a hundred pieces, and that was the end of that conversation.
You should be able to claim the Ca. sales tax on your tax returns and get it back. Home state law and local taxes apply based on where the car will reside. Here in Wisconsin it keeps people from bouncing county-to-county or over the state line to save a few bucks.
You’re problem is frustrating but from the sounds of it, you’re still thousands ahead. Pay the tax and move on with life - you’re not going to beat the system.