Wyoming Tax Question (Laramie, Sheridan, Cody: appointed, transplants, sales)

[Galt]

I'm trying to get a handle on taxes in Wyoming, and I can't find what I'm looking for. I wasn't able to find the answer in this forum either. So, please indulge me...

I know there is no state income tax, there is property tax and there is sales tax. But I thought I'd heard there is also a personal property tax, but that is what I haven't found mentioned here. Does Wyoming have a personal property tax on cars and trailers/RVs?

It could be called something different, but the idea is a tax based on the value of the car or trailer and assessed annually in order to renew tags. In Colorado they call it an ownership tax. Some states just have exorbitant tag renewal fees.

[dori36]

Originally Posted by Galt

I'm trying to get a handle on taxes in Wyoming, and I can't find what I'm looking for. I wasn't able to find the answer in this forum either. So, please indulge me...

I know there is no state income tax, there is property tax and there is sales tax. But I thought I'd heard there is also a personal property tax, but that is what I haven't found mentioned here. Does Wyoming have a personal property tax on cars and trailers/RVs?

It could be called something different, but the idea is a tax based on the value of the car or trailer and assessed annually in order to renew tags. In Colorado they call it an ownership tax. Some states just have exorbitant tag renewal fees.

I don't think Wyomng has a personal property tax, per se. It 'does', however, have exorbitant vehicle license and renewal fees that are paid when you get a Wyoming plate for your vehicle.

Regarding sales tax, yes, WY has one. I believe the base is 4% but most communities can and have added to it for local programs. Not sure there's anywhere that's still at 4%. Others may know better on that than I do.

[Kristynwy]

I think in Sheridan and Buffalo the sales tax is 6%, not on any grocery items however.

I do know this, when I register my car from Oregon in the next month or two because I didn't buy it here I have to pay a "sale's tax" on it according to it's value, as well as pay for what it costs to register it. Then from now on I just pay the registration each year. Some counties are cheaper than others. Sheridan I think is a little high. But with no income tax they have to make it up somewhere it always seems...

Still very tax friendly though... I think...

Other than that I don't think we have a "personal property tax", never had to pay one myself.

That "personal property tax" may be the one time payment you have to pay when you move from out of state for your vehicle. but other than that I can't think of anything else...

[Galt]

Hmmm, thanks for the replies. A tax by any other name is still a tax to me. Kristyn, how old is your car? I can't believe they require you to pay taxes on it even though you paid taxes on it previously to another state.

It sure is hard to get a handle on what the taxes are in a state. I'm amazed that most people I question don't know what taxes they pay. I can see not remembering the amount, but to not know what is taxed!! Well, now I understand why taxes are so high: people don't pay attention to them. Everywhere I go I ask people what the sales tax is in that locality, and no one ever knows the answer.

I've been in Cody for a couple weeks looking around and I have asked a couple people about the vehicle taxes, but they didn't know. I guess people are so wealthy in this country that they don't need to pay attention to details. But I am not wealthy and I pay attention to every dime I am taxed.

It doesn't do me any good to hear that Wyoming has the lowest taxes if people are leaving out some of the taxes in their calculation.

I need to find out the rate of this taxation on vehicles. I wasn't able to find it on the WY Dept. of Revenue website. If someone knows where I can look this up, I'd sure appreciate the link. Thank you.

[sunsprit]

Let's try to straighten this out, the above posters are very misinformed.

1) If you move into Wyoming from another state with a vehicle you've owned (titled) and registered in that other state, there is NO SALES TAX collected on the vehicle by Wyoming to register the vehicle. You will pay ONLY the "County Fee" and "State Fee" which are based upon the state listed reference guide (usually the NADA "bluebook", although the Kelly "bluebook" or other reference materials may be used) "Factory Price" of the vehicle when new. That price basis never changes, even though your vehicle may have appreciated or depreciated in street value since it was new ... and has no bearing upon what you paid for the vehicle.

Example: you bought a used "belchfire 600" for $200, because it needed some major repair work which you intend to do yourself; it has a running street value of $2,000, and the factory new sticker list price was $10,000. You will pay registration fees based upon the original $10,000 "factory price".

The registration fees go down each year for the first several years, to a minimum level which will not decrease.

Examples: my 1995 F-250 Ford Diesel pick up has reached the bottom level, at $122.68 each year in Laramie County. My 1982 MB 300TurboDiesel costs the same, because it's "factory new" list price was about the same price. My 1978 Alfa Romeo Spider costs $52.23, with the State portion only being $15.00 and the county getting $37.23.

Here's how to keep your vehicle registration costs fees low when you go to your county office: (1) do not "title" your pre-owned vehicle in Wyoming. The clerks will make it appear that you have to "re-title" your vehicle in Wyoming to get Wyoming Regstration, but as long as you have a valid title from another state and a current valid registration, you do NOT NEED to "re-title" your vehicle into Wyoming ... which is where you may get hooked on Wyoming sales tax fees. Don't do it. Simply show proof of prior ownership while a resident of that other state, a vaild title in your name, and you're OK to get a Wyoming temporary title document from the County Assessor's office which you will present to the County Clerk's office of Motor Vehicles, along with your vehicle VIN inspection report (sheriff's deputy, city police officer, they'll fill this form out for a modest ($5?) fee), and proof of insurance. You'll never have to "title" the vehicle in Wyoming, and when (if) you sell the vehicle, you still have a valid title proving ownership to the vehicle; it just happens to issued by another state.

BEWARE: Do NOT let your prior registration in another state expire, as you'll get caught up in the "title" change to Wyoming process. Also, do not let your out of state registration continue to run more than 30 days after becoming a Wyoming resident, or you'll see fines and penalties for having done so. You MUST register your vehicle in Wyoming in a timely manner upon becoming a legal resident of the state.

Specifically, your Trailers will be subject to County and State ownership taxes for each year's registration. But they're pretty low for utility trailers (such as might be used for an ATV, or a flatbed, or even a BP stock trailer); I pay as low as $7.00 per year to register a homebuilt small boat trailer (3 of them, boats ranging from 14' through 22') to $27.63 for a BP 2-horse trailer, to a high of $46.73 for a 28' gooseneck heavy duty stock trailer.

House trailers are titled through the DMV, which is the licensing system where property and ownership taxes are collected.

RV's are also subject to personal property tax. If you're using a camper on a truck, you'll pay a tax on that. A self-powered RV is a motor vehicle, so there's registration taxes collected on that. An ATV must now be titled and registered if you intend to operate it on public lands or roads; ie, I have two Polaris 6x6 ATV's used on my ranch, and the older one pre-dates the "title required" statutes ... it never leaves my private property, so it doesn't need any title or registration. But my new one, purchased last year (for a lot more money than my first BMW automobile), required a Wyoming title for ownership/sales taxes (yes, I bought it from a private party in Nebrasksa), and will require a registration for travel into State parks ... which requires proof of insurance. I think all that changed when there were enough irresponsible ATV operators causing damage to others (think MVA's ....) property and persons, that the "best way" to address the problem was to bring ATV's into the motor vehicle registration scheme. If an idiot on an ATV runs into my horse and me on a trail, I'm sure a lot happier knowing he's got insurance for my injuries instead of having to sue him for my losses.

2) Property Taxes: In addition to the real estate property taxes collected each year, Wyoming imposes "ownership taxes" upon personal property that may be used at the place, even though "sales taxes" may have been collected at the time of purchase of the equipment.

Examples: my 1964 JD 4020, which I use for hay forage equipment and loading around the livestock, is declared upon my annual schedule filed with the county assessor's office. (along with my other three smaller tractors, baler, swather, hay rake, post hole drill, manure spreader, and other ag implements, including hay feeders, livestock grain feeders, my irrigation pivot sprinkler, etc. etc. etc). In due course, along with my real estate property bill, I'll get a separate Property Tax bill assessed at the depreciated value of the items listed, which must be paid in full per the Tax bill schedule or the county will "lien" my real estate for the taxes owed. That, if unpaid, could lead to a real estate "property tax sale" on the courthouse steps for a fraction of the value of my real estate.

If I don't keep this annual declaration up to date, the county will do it for me. Although their valuations will be a lot higher than my declarations based upon my purchase price (most of my equipment was bought at farm auctions, not at retail). They may also "assume" that you've had normal turn over of equipment that got worn out and replaced with new at market values. This is where you'd declare your Camper for it's taxation. Along with tools or property used in the course of a business, if home based.

Similarly, Wyoming imposes an "ownership tax" on privately held aircraft, but only those used for commercial purposes. So, each year, my county assessor sends me a declaration form which I must fill out certifying that my airplane is used solely for private purposes to exempt it from the tax. It's kinda' interesting, because the same FAA database that Wyoming searches to determine that I might have an aircraft based in this state also discloses to them the category in which the aircraft is licensed. But the state laws require an annual declaration exemption or the "default" position is owing the tax. IF I miss the annual exemption certificate filing window (30 days from the time the assessor mails the form), I become liable for the tax ... even if I should be exempt, I still owe the tax for the year I didn't file the exemption.

On the face of it, some folks would look at Wyoming's tax structure in these areas and say ... "wow, that's expensive compared to _________ , where I live now". But, on the whole, I think you'll find Wyoming's overall tax burden upon individuals to be much much much less than anywhere else in the country. In the larger scheme of things, the dough's got to come from somewhere to run the state and the county services; so, if Wyoming car licensing seems a little high to you, consider that you're not paying huge burdensome real estate taxes, high state gasoline/diesel taxes, or huge other fees ... along with no personal income tax in Wyoming. (Compared to the 5% I pay on my CA and CO generated business income, and I'm not even a resident of those states). And our property tax mil levy's are low, too.

If you come from a state with a lot of social services and government "freebies", you may be disappointed in the scope and scale of Wyoming's services. They're pretty limited, and that's the way most Wyoming folk would prefer it to stay in accordance with the general attitude of independence and self-reliance.

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by sunsprit

Let's try to straighten this out, the above posters are very misinformed.

1) If you move into Wyoming from another state with a vehicle you've owned (titled) and registered in that other state, there is NO SALES TAX collected on the vehicle by Wyoming to register the vehicle. You will pay ONLY the "County Fee" and "State Fee" ...

Probably Kristynwy has to pay sales tax because OR does not have a sales tax, and thus it was never paid (yet) WY will change that . Likely the same case with vehicles previously licensed in MT, or any other states w/o sales tax. (this is for 'transplants,, folks moving in) WY Residents who go to MT or OR to buy vehicles will pay the WY rate of Sales tax when they register it, just as they would if they bought it in WY. Unfortunately, if the same as WA.... if you trade in at a dealer your tax is based on the difference. If you sell / trade to a private party, you each pay tax on each full purchase price.

When I moved to WA, they only allowed 2 vehicles to enter the state when you moved in without paying sales tax (8%) . Coming from Colorado, I had to pay sales tax (WA rate) AGAIN on my motorcycles, boat, and trailers, even tho I had done so in Colorado.

[Kristynwy]

Galt, I have only lived in Wyoming for a year and half, that is why I am still learning the taxes. I agree though we should all be informed citizens and know what taxes we are paying and why...


Sunsprit, I was not intentionally making incorrect statements... all I know is I went to the Sheridan County Courthouse, and they don't call it "sales tax" but you have to pay extra when you move from out of state on top of the county and state fees. It is a one time fee, you also have to go to the Sheriff's office and they run the vin to make sure it is not stolen... you can ask Elkhunter to verify this also...

I will give you an example, this year it cost $118 total to register our 1983 GMC Truck, last year was the first year we registered it, we bought it in Wy from a private deal. So didn't have to take it to the sheriff's office, however, the fee to get it registered on top of the state and county fees was closer to $160-180. So I did infact pay some extra tax because of being our first time registering the vehicle.

I may have labeled it incorrectly a sales tax, but a tax is a tax, same thing to me. I can't say if this is just in Sheridan county or the whole state of Wyoming... may just be a county thing...

There is no sales tax in Oregon, so I didn't pay a sales tax on my Honda, the income tax though was out of this world and so is the gas tax there... so I paid more than my share of taxes living there...

It is my personal opinion that states that charge you a one time fee, tax, based on the value, on top of the state and county fees, when you move from out of state is nothing more than "sales tax" on the vehicle because I didn't purchase it in this state.

Same thing in Louisiana for my husband, he had to pay for a vehicle he bought in Mississippi cause he lived right by the border and they charged him an extra one time fee on top of the state and county fees....

[Kristynwy]

Originally Posted by janb

Probably Kristynwy has to pay sales tax because OR does not have a sales tax, and thus it was never paid (yet) WY will change that . Probably the same case with vehicles previously licensed in MT, or any other states w/o sales tax.

Exactly! that may be why? I was never told why I had to pay that extra I will ask my husband when he gets home...
If I remember they told me that if you didn't buy it from a dealer, or from out of state you will have to pay something extra the first time you register it... maybe that was it... don't quote me on that I need to ask my husband...

One thing I am looking forward to in Buffalo, is Johnson county's fee is quite a bit cheaper than Sheridan and it will be under a hundred bucks to register the truck probably... and very cheap for my 1994 Honda Accord..

[sunsprit]

[quote=Kristynwy;4786930]Galt,
I will give you an example, this year it cost $118 total to register our 1983 GMC Truck, last year was the first year we registered it, we bought it in Wy from a private deal. So didn't have to take it to the sheriff's office, however, the fee to get it registered on top of the state and county fees was closer to $160-180. So I did infact pay some extra tax because of being our first time registering the vehicle.

I may have labeled it incorrectly a sales tax, but a tax is a tax, same thing to me. I can't say if this is just in Sheridan county or the whole state of Wyoming... may just be a county thing...

There is no sales tax in Oregon, so I didn't pay a sales tax on my Honda, the income tax though was out of this world and so is the gas tax there... so I paid more than my share of taxes living there...

QUOTE]

Well, of course you had to pay Wyoming Sales Tax, State & County, on the purchase of your 1983 GMC Truck. It mattered not that it was a private transaction and not a dealer sale; Wyoming will collect sales tax at the County Treasurer's office before they will process the title in your name as the new owner. So that's where you paid "additional fees" at the county offices. Look at your receipts or checks that you wrote when you went to title and register the vehicle; you had to pay two checks: one to the Treasurer's office and one to the County Clerk because two entirely separate transactions happened (one was SALES TAX and the other was REGISTRATION FEES). It sounds like your GMC is at the bottom rung of registration fees now, it cost less than my old 1986 F-250 Diesel.

You didn't have to take it in for a VIN inspection because it was already a Wyoming registered vehicle and the registration must have been current. If it had been expired, then they would have needed a new affadavit of VIN inspection.

These are Wyoming State laws, not county laws. So they're the same throughout the state, the only thing that differs by county is the local rate for registration and county sales tax. Some cities may have sales taxes, too, which are collected on vehicle sales, depends upon your address.

Not being familiar with Oregon, I didn't know that they don't have a sales tax. So, Wyoming would be entitled to collect sales tax on the vehicle you were bringing into this state that was purchased there. I do know if you'd come from CA or CO, that Wyoming doesn't collect sales tax on the vehicle from those states. I moved into Wyoming with 15 motor vehicles, and didn't pay sales tax on any of them to move here. Only the fee for the "temp Wyoming title" at the title office we had to visit before going to the motor vehicle registration counter.

[Kristynwy]

My husband just got home and reminded that there is a sign hanging up in the Sheridan County Courthouse that says if you haven't paid sales tax on a vehicle from out of state you will when you register it.

The thing is, our Honda is a 1994 accord, we lived in Oregon and paid taxes thru gas, property tax, income tax, and the DMV fees which aren't cheap in Oregon either, paid more than our fair share.
On such an older vehicle, I don't understand why in the world we have to pay sales tax.

My husband just reminded me that some states like to call it "Road Use Tax" like Louisiana in order charge you, but cover it up so it doesn't look like sales tax... but that's really what it is... Some states call it what it is and call it sales tax. That is what they referred to it in the Sheridan Courthouse.

If you can keep a title from out of state, then a person should also be able to register the vehicle and avoid paying sales tax to the state. That tax should only apply to the state the car was bought in. When states do this, things often are double taxed... I am a very conservative Constitutionalist and I think we are already taxed enough...

It is my personal belief that is extorting the public... and not fair...

But like I said no where is perfect, over all the tax burden is low here so I can't complain much at all. But that doesn't mean all taxes and fees are justified that they charge...