Automobile taxes

[rickers]

I need to clear up one point. You may be subject to a sales tax in Montana in some towns. It is not however a state sales tax. These sales taxes are local and only a few designated "resort towns" can charge this sales tax. Whitefish is one of the towns where purchases are subject to this tax. I Don't think it is applied to grocery store food but you will pay it for restaurant food, tourist trinkets, etc. Pharmacy prescriptions are exempt from these sales taxes also. My town of Hot Springs may be eligible to charge this resort sales tax but they don't.

[matyoka]

Originally Posted by JetMech72

Registration Rate for Light Vehicles
Age of Vehicle Registration Rate
0 to 4 years$217
5 to 10 years$87
11 years or more$28

County Option Tax – Counties may impose a county option tax based on the manufacturer's suggested retail price, depreciated according to the schedule established in MCA 61-3-503. The age of the vehicle is determined by subtracting the model year from the current calendar year. For example, the age of a 2005 model year sport utility vehicle registered in 2004 would be -1 year, resulting in a depreciation multiplier of 100%.

Glacier County motor vehicle registration includes some fees that other Counties do not charge(eg. native subsidy)... My 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser's registration for the current year was $347.50 It's ridiculously high compared to other states and even Counties. I do understand that there is no sales tax on vehicles, but I did pay my 6% tax in Jersey where I originally bough the car. It's a nice feature for those who buy their cars locally in Montana, but the outrageous registration fees will catch up with the buyers in lieu of NO SALES TAX.

[imbobbbb]

Originally Posted by GLS

I noticed in your post you were planning for "income tax". Can someone there clarify. I was under the impression there was no State income tax?

montana has a state income tax,wyoming and south dakota do not.

[jimj]

Originally Posted by imbobbbb

montana has a state income tax,wyoming and south dakota do not.

And that state income tax is a BIG BITE!

[bigtrees]

If I secede from the Union, does that exempt me from paying taxes?

I'd like to live someplace with no state income tax, no state sales tax, no resort tax, no property tax, and no federal income tax!!!!

[Gman2007]

Originally Posted by bigtrees

If I secede from the Union, does that exempt me from paying taxes?

I'd like to live someplace with no state income tax, no state sales tax, no resort tax, no property tax, and no federal income tax!!!!

When you find that place, please, please let me know!

[shadowwalker]

Maybe I am really confused, but...
I was under the impression you were taxed on material posessions yearly. Such as appliances, yard tractors, ect. Just stuff in general you own that isn't taxed or licensed otherwise.
Now I was told this probably 25 or 30 years ago and alot changes. Don't slam me on it, o.k.? Just asking.

[jimj]

Originally Posted by shadowwalker

Maybe I am really confused, but...
I was under the impression you were taxed on material posessions yearly. Such as appliances, yard tractors, ect. Just stuff in general you own that isn't taxed or licensed otherwise.
Now I was told this probably 25 or 30 years ago and alot changes. Don't slam me on it, o.k.? Just asking.

Nope. What you may have confused it with is the business equipment tax which really sucks imo but what it does is tax companies on everything from hammers to tractors.

[Reziac]

Originally Posted by jimj

Nope. What you may have confused it with is the business equipment tax which really sucks imo but what it does is tax companies on everything from hammers to tractors.

Montana used to have personal property tax on everything. You had to make a list of all your private possessions, or groups of possessions like "business attire" (rather than listing each piece) and estimate their value, then pay a tax on it, I forget the amount but at the time I didn't own enough stuff to hit the tax threshold. I also remember my mom going thru the house writing stuff on the form back in the 1960s. I think I only had to do it a couple times myself once I was on my own, then it mysteriously went away, and was missed by no one (probably not even by the tax collectors).

These personal property taxes used to be common everywhere. Don't know where they still apply, if anywhere in the U.S.

Wikipedia summary:

In the United States, another form of property tax is the personal property tax, which can target

automobiles, boats, aircraft and other vehicles;
other valuable durable goods such as works of art (most household goods and personal effects are usually exempt);
business inventory;
intangible assets such as stocks and bonds.

When I was a kid, Montana's personal property tax didn't exempt ANYTHING.

Some rules are in this here legal document I found:
http://stab.mt.gov/pdf/associates.pdf

[shadowwalker]

Thanks jimj, reziac. I seem to remember a friend having to "move" stuff around ahead of the tax man up there.