Best of both worlds Vancouver/Portland? (Camas: sales, rental, car registration)

[Redline]

What's it like living in Vancouver, WA and working in Portland?

No state income tax in WA.
No sales tax in Portland.
If you buy a car in Portland, and say you have rental property in Portland, register the car in Portland. No taxes. Is that a thing?
Other than the traffic, what am I missing? There is certainly no shortage of things to do in Portland. Amazing restaurants, friendly people.

Is the economy in Portland bad? There are "for lease" signs everywhere downtown.

Quality of life in Vancouver? Are the schools good? Are they overcrowded?

[Jane917]

If you live in WA (or anywhere) and work in Portland, you will pay OR income tax. You will need to digest that hurdle before you proceed with your checklist.

[notnamed]

Yeah you need to both live and work on the WA side of the river for the tax advantage to work. Car registration follows your residency can't just exploit where you have rental property.

[perigee]

Neighbors occasionally turn in people that have cars with Oregon plates, but obviously the owners live in WA.

[Ms_Christina]

Originally Posted by Redline

What's it like living in Vancouver, WA and working in Portland?

No state income tax in WA.

True, but you have to pay OR income tax if you work in OR

No sales tax in Portland.

True unless you have anything shipped to WA

If you buy a car in Portland, and say you have rental property in Portland, register the car in Portland. No taxes. Is that a thing?

It is a thing. A thing that could land you in Jail for fraud.

Other than the traffic, what am I missing? There is certainly no shortage of things to do in Portland. Amazing restaurants, friendly people.

These also exist in Vancouver and Camas

Is the economy in Portland bad? There are "for lease" signs everywhere downtown.

Since rents are at a high due to demand there are a lot of people getting into the landlord game.

Quality of life in Vancouver? Are the schools good? Are they overcrowded?

Life in VanWA is suburban living. Schools are good. The recent bond passed with almost 70% yes.

[GatsbyGatz]

Technically purchases in Oregon are also subject to WA's Use Tax.

[Diana Holbrook]

You're not the first to think of this.

Would that it were that simple.

[StealthRabbit]

During your prime earning and accumulation yrs a WA border home and WA job can be a nice advantage.

It helped me retire 15 yrs early.

Paying OR tax on earnings ends up being about 5%, after fed deduction. Be sure to run your own numbers. based on your earnings and deductions.

[texasdiver]

Best of both worlds is to live AND work in Vancouver and put your kids in schools on the Washington side of the river.

Then use Portland for restaurants, shopping, museums, zoos, concerts, etc.

[USDefault]

Originally Posted by texasdiver

Best of both worlds is to live AND work in Vancouver and put your kids in schools on the Washington side of the river.

Then use Portland for restaurants, shopping, museums, zoos, concerts, etc.

This.