Posted on 09/26/2006 6:30:36 AM PDT by Dubya
Used-car buyers beware -- of your sales tax bill.
Starting Sunday, tax offices across Texas will use a new system to determine sales taxes on private used-car purchases, which could set the value at more than someone actually pays for the vehicle.
Tarrant County is considering placing deputies or constables at tax offices when the new law takes effect.
"It's going to be a little bit of a shock to some people," said Betsy Price, Tarrant County tax assessor-collector. "We might have to charge them a lot more if the vehicle is valued higher."
Called "standard presumptive value," tax assessor-collectors will use a Texas Department of Transportation guide to determine a vehicle's value, regardless of how much a person pays for the car. The law would not apply to vehicles purchased through licensed dealers.
Buyers should expect to pay tax on at least 80 percent of the state-determined value, even if they paid less than that for the vehicle. State sales tax on used cars is 6.25 percent.
Mary Nell Mathis, tax advisor to consumer advocacy group Common Cause Texas, said the new guidelines could be fair.
"A $500 difference in the price of the car would only be $31.25 difference in sales tax," she said. "For most people, that's hardly worth arguing over. Some people will win and some people will lose."
TAX-STICKER SHOCK
New state guidelines meant to prevent fraud in used-car sales among private parties could mean higher sales taxes for used-car buyers.
Buyers will pay taxes based on a state assessment of the value, even if they paid less for the vehicle.
The law applies only to private transactions; it will not affect sales that go through licensed dealers.
A buyer can appeal the state's value of the car within 20 working days of purchase by getting a licensed car dealer or insurance adjuster to appraise the vehicle and fill out state forms, a process that could cost as much as $300.
The measure was among several bills passed by the Texas Legislature to generate money for school financing.
I had the same experience when I bought a car from my step dad. I also gave the correct price and had it marked as a "gift" by the clerk.
Having spent many years in Ohio, and Chicago, where they tax the fillings in your teeth, I was amazed.
I love Tennessee!
My parents (now too old to drive) gave my sister their 1993 Chrysler last month, which is admittedly not worth a ton of money.
I filled out the seller's DMV stuff and checked "gift"....sis did not have to pay any sales tax.
Hey Perry, "Adios, Mofo!"
I remember a while back they "cracked down" on garage sales somewhere, can't remember if it was here or elsewhere but it didn't get very far, guess it was too little money for too much effort.
The capacity of goobermint to suck every freaking penny from it's citizens knows no bounds.
Aren't you glad the republicans are in control? Otherwise we would have to worry about the government coming up with new ways to rape the taxpayer.
Looks like the "value" of all used cars in TX just went up by thousands.
Answer: they desperately hope they can make a bunch of money on this before it goes into the courts, because, this being Texas not Kaliforia the courts are liable that this tax means that the state is warrantying that much value in the vehicle in question, and is responsible to deliver the same.
Good for her. Glad to see there is one way to avoid paying these leaches. I moved here from SC (military xfer) and when I purchased a motorcycle from a private seller I was quite surprised and taken aback when I got to the DMV and was told to pony up additional $'s for "sales tax".
These clowns out here tax anything. It is a perpetual tax until the damn thing ends up in the landfill or crushed for scrap.
SZ
A 77 Nova? Don't pay the taxes, just throw it away. Seriously.
Texas will use the montly updated "Black Book" of comparable sales.
looks like TX will be a good place for us Yankees to do some used car shopping......no road salt either, LOL
Tell me about it! My last trade in, the BEST I could do was $4000 UNDER the "Blue Book" trade-in value. Other dealerships were $10,000 under.
Some of us do sell cars for $100 because it needs work. Paying taxes on the blue book value would actually winding up costing the seller for selling the vehicle. The State has no right to force us to take a loss.
The State has no authority to 'decide' how much something is worth if the parties to the transaction have agreed on a price. It negates our right to private contract.
I can see requiring a bill of sale with the signature of both parties, but if two parties have affirmed the vehicle is a gift, it's NOT within the rights of the State to say otherwise.
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If you have a $100 vehicle, park it in front of the Capitol and slap it with a bow. It can be their problem.
Government is killing us because we let it get away with micromanaging our existence and operate outside its legitimate boundaries.
Hey, thanks for straightening me out on that. Next year I'll just tell the IRS that I didn't have any income in 2006, that any money I received was a gift, and that they don't have any right to say otherwise. With any luck I'll not only not have to pay taxes, I'll qualify for welfare! /sarcasm
Sorry about the multiple posts.
Oh goody! Another FReeper who thinks tossing out a straw-man argument bolsters his view of the subject at hand.
We were talking about the State inflating the value of privately sold vehicles, not you income taxes. DO try and keep up.
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So Grandpa should have to pay for the privilege of giving a family member his car that he can no longer drive? Do you think a working family should have to pay for the 'privilege' of accepting it?
Do you think a vehicle that was actually sold for $100 due to mechanical issues should be taxed by its blue book value...which could be in the thousands?
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It has NOTHING to do with the State trying to 'fix' what a few dishonest people have done, it has to do with the State deciding the extent of its powers for the sole purpose of collecting revenue.
We have a right to private contract, and the State has NO right forcing ITS idea of 'market value' on two parties who have already agreed what its worth.
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I hope it goes to court and the State gets its keister sued off!
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