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Topic: Taxes & buying a used LD in CA (Read 3 times) previous topic - next topic
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Taxes & buying a used LD in CA
Yahoo Message Number: 56687
Hi--
 We've been looking into buying a used LD in  California and driving it home (out-of-state).  Being aware  that non-California residents buying a new LD from the  factory must use a driver to drive the unit out-of-state before they take  possession, I started trying to figure out if buying a used LD required the same  thing. We certainly don't want to take the risk that CA will come after us  for sales tax as we will be promptly paying a hefty amount of sales tax in our  home state.
 We called CA DMV, which referred us to  the CA Board of Equalization.  We were told by one person at the BOE  that even though we're buying from a private party, we must go through the  ordeal of conducting an out-of-state transaction before a notary.  "If you  take possession of the vehicle in CA, then you make functional use of it.   Just driving it out of state is making functional use of it and you will owe the  tax. We don't care if the seller is a dealer or a private  party."
 Another call to the BOE resulted in a more  confusing answer, which was really no answer at all.  We're thinking that  surely someone has dealt with this before, as many used LD's as there are in  CA.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.  We like to play it on the  safe side and pay our taxes where they're due.  I just read in  "Trailer Life" magazine that double taxation has been happening in Indiana, so I  know it does happen.
 Thanks for any help on this.  At this point  we're in a bit of a time crunch and don't have time to wait for a written answer  from the BOE.  I'm going to call the BOE tomorrow and ask for a  supervisor.  Any other ideas?  Thanks, twodrifters

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Re: Taxes & buying a used LD in CA
Reply #1
Yahoo Message Number: 56691
--CA DMV advised me that one has 10 days from date of sale to get vehicle out of CA.  I have done this twice.  Having a foothold so to speak, in Oregon.  It will not save you if you live in WA as one pays the sales tax unles RV has been owned 7 years. SC

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    We've been looking into buying a used LD in  California and
driving it