Any downside to becoming a Florida resident?

[jtmedli]

words...

Pardon my ignorance here, but this seems like CA essentially trying to collect taxes on a vehicle sold there despite it not ever being registered in CA by the buyer? Or am I mistaken here?

Also, there's a million ways around this kind of thing. For example, I'm a SC home of record guy, so I'd just buy the car there ($300 maximum sales tax) and then re-register in FL like 6 months later for like $50 (transferring existing plates is cheap) to avoid the sales in FL. BINGO, saved like $1000 right there and just avoided SC property taxes on it (higher than FL).

 

[Gatordev]

CA is an expert at finding ways to elicit money out of any and every source, so this is no surprise.

 

[Brett327]

So is the District of Columbia.

 

[jtmedli]

So is the District of Columbia.

I have family up there. I hear horror stories.

 

[Brett327]

I've had both CA and DC come after me for income taxes that they weren't entitled to. The bureaucracy of DC was much more painful to deal with. I submitted all the required documentation, even received confirmation that my case was closed via email, only to receive notification from them 10 months later that I was delinquent, fines, interest, etc. Had to start the whole process over again. The individuals I dealt with were all very professional, but you could tell they were overwhelmed.

 

[Flash]

I've had both CA and DC come after me for income taxes that they weren't entitled to. The bureaucracy of DC was much more painful to deal with. I submitted all the required documentation, even received confirmation that my case was closed via email, only to receive notification from them 10 months later that I was delinquent, fines, interest, etc. Had to start the whole process over again. The individuals I dealt with were all very professional, but you could tell they were overwhelmed.

DC government has a long list of reasons it is really screwed up and is just one of many reasons I never bothered to look at living in the city.

 

[DanMa1156]

My favorite example of CA overstepping was seeing a friend forget to renew his car in FL, but the car was like 2 weeks shy of 2 years old in CA. (I may be confusing numbers here but I don't think so). When he went to register in CA they charged him sales tax because it was under 2 years old - so he told them to forget it - drove it home - carpooled the next 2 weeks and then registered it. Stupidity.

 

[insanebikerboy]

Nope, bought the car in California and had them deliver it to me in Vegas (it was a great weekend). So, since it was delivered to me out of state, all was good. And was it a bit of a pain to do, yep. But well worth the time and effort.

Now that, that is pure genius.

 

[insanebikerboy]

Pardon my ignorance here, but this seems like CA essentially trying to collect taxes on a vehicle sold there despite it not ever being registered in CA by the buyer? Or am I mistaken here?

Nope, you're reading it correctly.

The other awesome thing California does is if you don't register/title it in California at time of purchase, you are to physically remove it from the state within 24 hours of purchase until it is registered in whatever other state. If you don't they can fine you/impound the car.

 

[Hair Warrior]

The other awesome thing California does is if you don't register/title it in California at time of purchase, you are to physically remove it from the state within 24 hours of purchase until it is registered in whatever other state. If you don't they can fine you/impound the car.

California sounds like a stress-free place run by emotionally stable people.

 

[RadicalDude]

Most of these laws make perfect sense for 99% of the population... i.e. non-military. You live in a special bubble where you get to essentially cheat the municipality you live in out of their otherwise legally-justified taxes and still use all the public services... for free.

Don't be shocked, going through life, when a bureaucracy is not hyper-efficient at meeting the needs your special-snowflake status. For the record, I spent my entire tour in California without ever once running afoul of their local laws and ordinances. I've had 10x the headache dealing with "champions of the free market" Verizon, Comcast, AT&T, and my various landlords than any government trying to tax me.

 

[scoolbubba]

Taxation is theft.

 

[Flash]

Taxation is theft.

Okay.

 

[Hair Warrior]

Scheiße... does that make me an accomplice to theft?

 

[Pags]

Damn it you idiots; step away from the keyboard!