Help! Crazy Car Use Tax from move to CA (Paradise: sales, lease)

[99Percenter]

Can anybody suggest an actionable approach to try and get out of paying this ridiculous car use tax in CA when I bought my car in another state almost a year ago? I was in another state almost the entire year save about 10 days.

Like an honest citizen, I dated my car registration form honestly instead of fudging the date. Now I owe over $1100 when I wasn’t even in CA almost the whole year! If I had fudged the date I would owe $0! How does that make any sense?!!!

Now I am a Kafkaesque nightmare. I have about 30 days left on a temporary registration to try and find relief from paying this tax. I went to a local CDTFA office (California Department of Tax and Fee Administration). I got the expected bureaucratic response of there was no possible relief from the tax.

Anybody have any suggested actions to take? Obviously I am open to ideas since this is going to otherwise cost me $1,100.

[Mr5150]

IMO if you can afford to buy a car that results in an $1100 car tax you can easily afford the sales tax.

No sympathy here

[CCbaxter]

Wait, are you talking about registration fees, or sales tax on a vehicle less than a year old?

[99Percenter]

Yes, basically the sales tax (the CDTFA worker used the phrase "use" tax, so that is what I used); but it is essentially the sales tax from the nearly year ago transaction I made in another state (while living in that state almost the entire year, and not living in CA).

In regards to the 1st reply, my purchase price is well well well below the average car purchase price; and I hadn't bought a car in 19 years. So no, I cannot afford to just be throwing around $1100. Again, I can't understand the rational or justness in having to pay $1,100; but 10 days later and I would owe $0.

(debating this is not really the point of my thread, though)

The registration fees are different I have already paid them. The $1100 represents the net difference in sales tax between CA and my prior state (as I paid sales tax there for the transaction).

[CCbaxter]

Originally Posted by 99Percenter

Yes, basically the sales tax (the CDTFA worker used the phrase "use" tax, so that is what I used); but it is essentially the sales tax from the nearly year ago transaction I made in another state (while living in that state almost the entire year, and not living in CA).

In regards to the 1st reply, my purchase price is well well well below the average car purchase price; and I hadn't bought a car in 19 years. So no, I cannot afford to just be throwing around $1100. Again, I can't understand the rational or justness in having to pay $1,100; but 10 days later and I would owe $0.

(debating this is not really the point of my thread, though)

I agree, that law is essentially a screw job. It was a huge hassle for me to bring a less than year old leased car to CA. When you lease you pay the sals tax each month. DMV acted like they had never heard of that and were sure I was trying to get away with something. Took 3 months to clear up.
Good luck, but I’m pretty sure you can argue till the end times and you’re still going to be $1100 lighter.

[cb73]

Originally Posted by 99Percenter

Can anybody suggest an actionable approach to try and get out of paying this ridiculous car use tax in CA when I bought my car in another state almost a year ago? I was in another state almost the entire year save about 10 days.

Like an honest citizen, I dated my car registration form honestly instead of fudging the date. Now I owe over $1100 when I wasn’t even in CA almost the whole year! If I had fudged the date I would owe $0! How does that make any sense?!!!

Now I am a Kafkaesque nightmare. I have about 30 days left on a temporary registration to try and find relief from paying this tax. I went to a local CDTFA office (California Department of Tax and Fee Administration). I got the expected bureaucratic response of there was no possible relief from the tax.

Anybody have any suggested actions to take? Obviously I am open to ideas since this is going to otherwise cost me $1,100.

California is essentially a nanny state. We have a huge infrastructure of welfare and free stuff for everybody.

Somebody has to pay for all that free stuff.

This year, it's going to be you.

Welcome to California. Wait til you get your property tax bill.

[ElDiabloJoe]

Originally Posted by cb73

California is essentially a nanny state. We have a huge infrastructure of welfare and free stuff for everybody.

Somebody has to pay for all that free stuff.

This year, it's going to be you.

Welcome to California. Wait til you get your property tax bill.

^ This!!

[Electrician4you]

Who cares. You registered a car in this state. The use tax is the tax paid for the purchase of the vehicle. The amount of time you spend in the state doesn’t matter. It’s not a prorated tax amount.
You should of simply gone on and reregistered it in the other state.

[99Percenter]

The amount of time I spend in the state DOES matter. 10 days later and I would owe $0.

[SportyandMisty]

The short answer is there is nothing you can do to lower your use tax obligation in California. I wonder if you could apply for a refund from the state you departed.

Think of it as the price you pay to live in Paradise.

Welcome to California.