Posted on 12/30/2007 1:49:31 PM PST by Daffynition
PORTLAND, Maine - When Steve Kahn got a $26,000 tax bill on his airplane, he thought Maine Revenue Services had made a mistake. Kahn lives, works, and keeps his plane in Massachusetts.
But the bill was no error. It was part of the agency's efforts to collect taxes on aircraft owned by out-of-state residents, even though they bought their planes elsewhere and brought them to Maine only to visit.
A number of other states, from Florida to Washington, are doing the same as they grapple with budget shortfalls and as the Internet makes it easier to track the comings and goings of aircraft.
Many pilots are outraged.
"At best what Maine is doing is underhanded and devious; at worst it is illegal," Kahn said. "Either way, it's wrong."
Maine officials say they are simply enforcing the state's laws when they send bills, into six figures, to out-of-state plane owners.
At issue in Maine is the state's use tax, which applies to many goods and services bought out of state that are not subject to sales tax. In the case of airplanes, tax officials say, the law allows them to collect a 5 percent use tax from people who did not pay sales taxes on their planes if they brought their plane to Maine for more than 20 days, excluding time for maintenance and alterations, in the first year of ownership.
"We're charged with administering the law," said David Bauer, a tax policy analyst with Maine Revenue Services. "We didn't write it."
(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Money-grubbin bastids.
Taxation without representation. Seems to me we had little dustup about that once a long time ago. Of course, our testicles have atrophied quite a bit since then.
There is a price to be paid for apathy. Most people are content to sit around eating, watching tube, and voting for the same two political parties over and over again. So there’s no surprise when unfair tax bills come, or at least there shouldn’t be.
Who cares? It’s only rich people being taxed. Seriously, when do we take our country back?
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Reve-nooers are always finding creative ways to rob us. See the “surcharge” of NY and NJ (which I know too well) where you basically pay TWICE when you get a speeding ticket: once when you get the ticket and again when you get points assessed from the same ticket. This is all on top of the (usually legitimate) rise in premiums from your insurer.
I would tell them to issue a warrant for my arrest in Maine - and then never go there again.
The politics of greed.
You’re amicability is puzzling.
I believe the same tax applies to boat owners.
The mega yacht owners probably know about the tax and keep their boats in Maine up to the point of not paying the tax.
The boats leave Maine and income to marinas, repair yards, and so forth is lost forever, not to mention all the money the owners and boat crews would spend while in Maine.
Another stupid tax by legislators that have mush for brains.
This article might be worthy of your ping list.
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According to Intrade, the winner of the December 12th GOP debate was... Duncan Hunter.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1938773/posts
Why the smart money is on Duncan Hunter
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1926032/posts
In this poll Hunter is up 3% and even with Paul and Thompson.
http://www.wxyz.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=3481ef60-8195-46a9-af04-b87b907bcfdd
lol.
What’s next, the State of Maine sending tax bills to people who drove their cars to Maine and stayed 20 days?
And there are some gun owners who might say they didn’t write the Constitution, they’re just enforcing it.
I hear they’re also trying to collect on gift cards that have not been used in 2 years.
What??????
What if I DRIVE to Maine in my CAR????
Do I have to pay sales tax on that too????
Two things stand out for me in this piece.One...Massachusetts does not levy any kind of sales tax for residents who purchase a plane.If I gotta pay 5% on my Chevy then there should be a tax on planes.Two...one guy from Massachusetts is being taxed by Maine because his plane took sick kids from Maine to Boston...or so it’s claimed.If true,that stinks to high Heaven.
Ping.
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