I'm sick of CA taxes!

[GreenEnergy28]

I got hit this year with the unsecured property tax on my new boat ($2,400). I'm so sick of giving this state money because I worked hard for something!

So, after doing the RDP search, I called AZ Game and Fish to start the out of state registration process. I have the storage unit taken care of, and I plan to keep the trailer registered in CA as recommended by forum members. Since I have a loan on the boat, I have to get the lienholder notification completed by the bank. AZ wants this form and a copy of the title in order to complete the out of state registration. I'm pushing to get this done before Jan 1st so I don't get hit with that stupid CA tax again.
Since I never got that tax on my last two boats, I didn't think much about titling the new one here in CA. Guess I should have!

So, now I have a question. Once I get this done, how do I inform the state that the boat is stored and registered in AZ? Do I actually transfer the title when registering out of state? How does that work?

 

[dread Pirate]

Guessing this is part of the reason we see so many high end boats with MT registration numbers..

 

[GreenEnergy28]

Guessing this is part of the reason we see so many high end boats with MT registration numbers..

For sure. A lot of CA based LLC's in MT.
Riverside county hit me with 1 percent of purchased price, plus school fees. I can't accept that after paying over $20k in sales tax when I purchased it. I don't have RDP money, just trying to have a couple of nice toys...

 

[sintax]

I got hit this year with the unsecured property tax on my new boat ($2,400). I'm so sick of giving this state money because I worked hard for something!

So, after doing the RDP search, I called AZ Game and Fish to start the out of state registration process. I have the storage unit taken care of, and I plan to keep the trailer registered in CA as recommended by forum members. Since I have a loan on the boat, I have to get the lienholder notification completed by the bank. AZ wants this form and a copy of the title in order to complete the out of state registration. I'm pushing to get this done before Jan 1st so I don't get hit with that stupid CA tax again.
Since I never got that tax on my last two boats, I didn't think much about titling the new one here in CA. Guess I should have!

So, now I have a question. Once I get this done, how do I inform the state that the boat is stored and registered in AZ? Do I actually transfer the title when registering out of state? How does that work?

had the same situation.

find the number on your tax bill, call them up. They wanted a scanned copy of the new registration documents and told me to have a good day.

 

[3queens]

Good luck it took me 2yrs to get them to stop sending the tax bill even after filling out the forms
Had to call tax assessor office every time

 

[GreenEnergy28]

had the same situation.

find the number on your tax bill, call them up. They wanted a scanned copy of the new registration documents and told me to have a good day.

That is what I was wondering. How do I inform them. I have the information from my bill for this year so I will send it in as soon as I get the registration transferred.

 

[Singleton]

I know in SD County, if the boat is stored in AZ and you have evidence the property tax is waived.
I usually get asked every few years to provide evidence of storage in AZ.
Plus since the CO river is considered CA or AZ, my boat is still CA registered.

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

These jokes are starting to write themselves.

 

[oldschool]

I believe the boat needs the be used more that 50% of the time in Az.

 

[oldschool]

Guessing this is part of the reason we see so many high end boats with MT registration numbers..

And motorhomes and race car trailers and…….

 

[GreenEnergy28]

These jokes are starting to write themselves.

I know...I know...

I am still working on my exit plan, but really hoping to have property out of state soon. I was born and raised here and leaving isn't what I want to do, but this state is making it impossible to want to stay.

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

I know...I know...

I am still working on my exit plan, but really hoping to have property out of state soon. I was born and raised here and leaving isn't what I want to do, but this state is making it impossible to want to stay.

I was the same way. Luckily my boat has not been registered in CA ever under my ownership

 

[dread Pirate]

And motorhomes and race car trailers and…….

Fortunately my race trailers are still cheap to register.

 

[GreenEnergy28]

I know in SD County, if the boat is stored in AZ and you have evidence the property tax is waived.
I usually get asked every few years to provide evidence of storage in AZ.
Plus since the CO river is considered CA or AZ, my boat is still CA registered.

So you kept the registration in CA but are proving the boat is primarily used out of state? I read, at least 51% of the use requires the vessel to be registered in that state. I mostly boat Lake Mohave and the river from Needles bridge to Havasu. I guess that does make sense. Get the best of both worlds, no $300 Az registration, and no CA property tax.

 

[Singleton]

So you kept the registration in CA but are proving the boat is primarily used out of state? I read, at least 51% of the use requires the vessel to be registered in that state. I mostly boat Lake Mohave and the river from Needles bridge to Havasu. I guess that does make sense. Get the best of both worlds, no $300 Az registration, and no CA property tax.

Proved the boat is stored out of state and only enters CA for repairs.
Usage is mixed, since I boat Havasu and SD county agreed on that.

Each county treats it different

 

[77charger]

Reg in az keep trailer ca good to go.

 

[playdeep]

These jokes are starting to write themselves.

But it's soooo worth it with the weather being soooo nice and all.

 

[Just Ducky]

Before I moved to arizona permanently I kept my boat registered in California but boat stayed at my home in havasu. Cheaper registration than Arizona non resident since you need to meet certain requirements to establish residency even though we owned a home here. The trick is the county of L. A. Wants taxes on boats that are kept in the county. Boat can be stored anywhere ( like my place in Arizona) registration is dependent on where boat is primarily used.Boat is used on Colorado river only so that qualifies as California. Once I moved here permanently registration went to arizona.

 

[the510]

I got hit this year with the unsecured property tax on my new boat ($2,400). I'm so sick of giving this state money because I worked hard for something!

So, after doing the RDP search, I called AZ Game and Fish to start the out of state registration process. I have the storage unit taken care of, and I plan to keep the trailer registered in CA as recommended by forum members. Since I have a loan on the boat, I have to get the lienholder notification completed by the bank. AZ wants this form and a copy of the title in order to complete the out of state registration. I'm pushing to get this done before Jan 1st so I don't get hit with that stupid CA tax again.
Since I never got that tax on my last two boats, I didn't think much about titling the new one here in CA. Guess I should have!

So, now I have a question. Once I get this done, how do I inform the state that the boat is stored and registered in AZ? Do I actually transfer the title when registering out of state? How does that work?

I went through this years ago. The problem might be with the bank. Some banks require that they hold the title. AZ is a non-title state. The registration is the title. This is how we initially won the battle. The CA DMV form has a thing called the situs address. I put down the actual storage location of the boat and trailer on that. Then I took photos of the boat in the storage location. I also saved all my service records (showing AZ address), and launch ramp fees. I forwarded it to the City Clerk and advised that the vessel was never located in California, so I should not be taxed. I supported it with all the documents I mentioned. BOOM I was exempt. The process took months, but eventually, I did end up with the win.

Once I bought my house out there I transferred everything over anyway.

 

[GreenEnergy28]

I went through this years ago. The problem might be with the bank. Some banks require that they hold the title. AZ is a non-title state. The registration is the title. This is how we initially won the battle. The CA DMV form has a thing called the situs address. I put down the actual storage location of the boat and trailer on that. Then I took photos of the boat in the storage location. I also saved all my service records (showing AZ address), and launch ramp fees. I forwarded it to the City Clerk and advised that the vessel was never located in California, so I should not be taxed. I supported it with all the documents I mentioned. BOOM I was exempt. The process took months, but eventually, I did end up with the win.

Once I bought my house out there I transferred everything over anyway.

Thanks for the input. The bank already sent me a copy of the title, just a scanned copy though. AZGF wants the notification signed and notarized by the lienholder so you may be right in me hitting a wall there.
I may be okay with what Singleton has done. I buy the annual pass for Mohave every year. I will make copies of that and my storage agreement for further proof.

 

[Mandelon]

My neighbor has all his toys registered in Montana, to an LLC. But if a LEO notices I think it could be trouble. He obviously lives in CA and is just using the Montana LLC to not pay the CA registration. I think it works...til it doesn't.

 

[Kachina26]

I've often wondered how much more tax money Ca would collect if the taxes were low enough to make it more expensive to dodge it than it was to pay it. Same with registration fees.

 

[liv4riv]

When purchasing a new boat, motorhome, airplane take possession in another state or mexico and document with a notary keep it out of state for 90 days and avoid sales tax. Talk to your CPA to verify. in california.

 

[framer1]

The sad part is that you have to go though all the s**t because CA can't stand anybody actually trying to enjoy their live without getting taxed to death.

 

[FlyByWire]

They’ll keep sending you the tax bill until the DMV has the boat shown as sited (sighted / cited…(?) I dunno, it’s their word) out of state. This is how you can keep the CA hull numbers but not pay the tax. This should all go away with the AZ reg, but I would not count on it.

 

[Singleton]

They’ll keep sending you the tax bill until the DMV has the boat shown as sited (sighted / cited…(?) I dunno, it’s their word) out of state. This is how you can keep the CA hull numbers but not pay the tax. This should all go away with the AZ reg, but I would not count on it.

Funny fact, the county property tax application does not have access to the DMV data. Plus registration is based on usage while the property tax is based off stored location and not usage. All those folks who park a boat in SD Marinas get the tax bill even if they live out of state.

 

[dirtslinger2]

This is easy, if you store and use your boat in AZ, you can keep the CA registration and not pay the luxury tax. I've been doing it for over 20 years.

Go to your local DMV and ask them how to change it.

 

[zhandfull]

This is easy, if you store and use your boat in AZ, you can keep the CA registration and not pay the luxury tax. I've been doing it for over 20 years.

Go to your local DMV and ask them how to change it.

Registered my boat in California. They asked where it was stored on the form. Lake Havasu!

 

[Xtrmwakeboarder]

Guessing this is part of the reason we see so many high end boats with MT registration numbers..

Wait a second... you mean all of the exotics I see in Newport Beach aren't visitors from Montana?!

 

[FROGMAN524]

My neighbor has all his toys registered in Montana, to an LLC. But if a LEO notices I think it could be trouble. He obviously lives in CA and is just using the Montana LLC to not pay the CA registration. I think it works...til it doesn't.

I think there’s a thread about that on here lol

 

[dread Pirate]

Wait a second... you mean all of the exotics I see in Newport Beach aren't visitors from Montana?!

I'm sure they're just out here enjoying the weather this time of year.

 

[angiebaby]

For sure. A lot of CA based LLC's in MT.
Riverside county hit me with 1 percent of purchased price, plus school fees. I can't accept that after paying over $20k in sales tax when I purchased it. I don't have RDP money, just trying to have a couple of nice toys...

If you spent over $20K in sales tax, you have RDP money. Quit crying poor.

School fees on a boat? Seriously?

 

[HNL2LHC]

I got hit this year with the unsecured property tax on my new boat ($2,400). I'm so sick of giving this state money because I worked hard for something!

So, after doing the RDP search, I called AZ Game and Fish to start the out of state registration process. I have the storage unit taken care of, and I plan to keep the trailer registered in CA as recommended by forum members. Since I have a loan on the boat, I have to get the lienholder notification completed by the bank. AZ wants this form and a copy of the title in order to complete the out of state registration. I'm pushing to get this done before Jan 1st so I don't get hit with that stupid CA tax again.
Since I never got that tax on my last two boats, I didn't think much about titling the new one here in CA. Guess I should have!

So, now I have a question. Once I get this done, how do I inform the state that the boat is stored and registered in AZ? Do I actually transfer the title when registering out of state? How does that work?

Wait….lien holder…. Blah blah blah. You know this is against RDP membership requirements. You are not to buy any toys other than with cash out of your piles. No loan OR HELOC.

I’d delete this before @shintoooo or @DaytonaBabe sees this and bans you.

 

[D19]

You have to notify your county. The county is who bills you, not the state.

The ol leave your trailer registered in California is an old wives tale. I have Arizona trucks with California trailers. The government can’t tell me that I can’t tow my California trailer with my Arizona truck or vice versa. If that’s the case U-Haul and Semi Trucks would be getting fines left and right because those plates never match up.

The whole discussion makes no sense to me. You are trying to say that you store your boat in Arizona all the time to avoid taxes yet you keep your Trailer that it sits on registered in California so you don’t get in trouble? That makes no sense. The only address that CHP cares about is the one on your drivers license so they know where to mail your ticket to. Don’t overthink it.

 

[Sharky]

Move to Colorado. Lefty progs don't call them taxes anymore. They are called "fees" to get around TABOR.

Taxes have to be voted on per TABOR. Now, everything is a "fee"


We have a new "fee" in the works for vehicle registrations. Made just for trucks. Truck over 3500# gets wacked on registration.

Naturally proposed by lefty progs in this state.

Depending on how heavy your car is, you could pay more at the DMV

“Cars are getting bigger, heavier and more dangerous," said Democratic Senator Faith Winter.

www.9news.com

 

[Angler]

Move to Colorado. Lefty progs don't call them taxes anymore. They are called "fees" to get around TABOR.

Taxes have to be voted on per TABOR. Now, everything is a "fee"


We have a new "fee" in the works for vehicle registrations. Made just for trucks. Truck over 3500# gets wacked on registration.

Naturally proposed by lefty progs in this state.

Depending on how heavy your car is, you could pay more at the DMV

“Cars are getting bigger, heavier and more dangerous," said Democratic Senator Faith Winter.

www.9news.com

People in Ca already pay the weight fee. Welcome to the party.

 

[rrrr]

These jokes are starting to write themselves.

You poor bastards.

 

[Sportin' Wood]

You poor bastards.

Learn to swim.

 

[rrrr]

Move to Colorado. Lefty progs don't call them taxes anymore. They are called "fees" to get around TABOR.

Taxes have to be voted on per TABOR. Now, everything is a "fee"


We have a new "fee" in the works for vehicle registrations. Made just for trucks. Truck over 3500# gets wacked on registration.

Naturally proposed by lefty progs in this state.

Depending on how heavy your car is, you could pay more at the DMV

“Cars are getting bigger, heavier and more dangerous," said Democratic Senator Faith Winter.

www.9news.com

From your link:

“We are at a record number of deaths on the road. If it’s not a pedestrian or bicyclist, the increase has been 25%. Pedestrian and bicyclist interaction with cars has been 77% increase," said Winter. "One of the most important things we can do as a government is make people feel safe."

Pedestrians and bike riders are generally entitled fucktards, and in liberal Colorado probably even moreso. No wonder they're getting whacked.

Uh, my apologies to @Skinny Tire AH.

 

[Taboma]

You have to notify your county. The county is who bills you, not the state.

The ol leave your trailer registered in California is an old wives tale. I have Arizona trucks with California trailers. The government can’t tell me that I can’t tow my California trailer with my Arizona truck or vice versa. If that’s the case U-Haul and Semi Trucks would be getting fines left and right because those plates never match up.

The whole discussion makes no sense to me. You are trying to say that you store your boat in Arizona all the time to avoid taxes yet you keep your Trailer that it sits on registered in California so you don’t get in trouble? That makes no sense. The only address that CHP cares about is the one on your drivers license so they know where to mail your ticket to. Don’t overthink it.

I will just mention that my close friend, with his CA driver's license, towing his Arizona registered boat, on his Arizona plated boat trailer, behind his California plated Motorhome, got stopped by the CHP in Vidal junction. The CHP then escorted him to Needles right then and there to get the trailer re-registered in CA.
So in his case, it was not a wive's tale. Now maybe AZ doesn't care, but California does.

 

[D19]

I will just mention that my close friend, with his CA driver's license, towing his Arizona registered boat, on his Arizona plated boat trailer, behind his California plated Motorhome, got stopped by the CHP in Vidal junction. The CHP then escorted him to Needles right then and there to get the trailer re-registered in CA.
So in his case, it was not a wive's tale. Now maybe AZ doesn't care, but California does.

That doesn’t make any sense. Chp can’t tell anyone where they can register and store their property. AZ registration is valid to be used on all US roadways. CHP also has no authority to change your course of travel (detain) you for that reason.

 

[HNL2LHC]

I believe the boat needs the be used more that 50% of the time in Az.

So that is why there are some people going in the wrong side in Parker and Havasu. They are trying to stay on the AZ for tax purposes.

 

[Taboma]

That doesn’t make any sense. Chp can’t tell anyone where they can register and store their property. AZ registration is valid to be used on all US roadways. CHP also has no authority to change your course of travel (detain) you for that reason.

Well they certainly did, and I heard all about when he arrived hours later than expected with his Lavey in tow. As you might expect he wasn't at all happy about it. This was probably 20 years ago, so perhaps laws have changed. I do seem to recall his choices were following the CHP to Needles OR leave his trailer with his Lavey on it, parked in Videl Jct until he returned with the proper CA registration. Obviously he chose to not leave it parked there.
To bad you weren't there to advise him to tell the officer to piss-off.

I will mention this is a topic that's been bantered about several times over the years on RDP, and several members have chimed in agreeing that it's a No No having a AZ plated trailer behind a CA plated vehicle if they're both in your name.
It's essentially the same CA law that makes you register your vehicle in CA if you move there after X-number of days.

 

[LuauLounge]

In 2009 I bought a $20K boat and 2 new Sea Doo's for close to $30K. Got a letter in the mail from the assessors office asking me to please fill out the form showing all the info. I read through it and said if I didn't return it, they would get the info from DMV. This is California, so I thought what do I have to gain. Filled out the form, put it in an envelope and threw it in the boat folder.
Never heard anything. I sold the skis in 2019 and haven't heard a word. The boat is stored on a HydroHoist year-round and they have someone come by every other year to ensure the boats are registered. Don't know what happened, but I'm not looking into it.

 

[530RL]

I've often wondered how much more tax money Ca would collect if the taxes were low enough to make it more expensive to dodge it than it was to pay it. Same with registration fees.

The first political fundraiser I ever went to in Arizona was for this guy running for senate in California.

He shared your view as did his sponsor Reagan.

Laffer curve - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

 

[Taboma]

When I bought my new Cole, we paid the CA sales tax, but I had Jim's secretary register it in AZ, using my Havasu address because I knew it spend it's life there.
This was mid-90's, not even sure if they had a non-resident fee structure then, wasn't aware of it anyway.
Fast forward ahead several years, wife had paid the registration from our San Diego Bank, like always. Get a very sternly worded letter from AZ Game and Fish.
It stated, prove you're an AZ resident with the following documentation (Which we were not, at least in legal speak), OR pay non-resident fees, and at this time, any back fees will be waved.
Then they went on to detail the legal ramifications if we chose to commit FRAUD.
We paid the Non-Resident and have done so ever since.

 

[PDQH2O]

Transported my CA registered boat permanently out of state in December. Because I still owned my home and had not re registered the boat in my new state prior to January 1, CA assessed the luxury tax on me and based it on the non-depreciated purchase price. Tried to reason that the boat was out of state by January and never to return, but no dice. Guess someone has to help finance Newsom’s lavish lifestyle. I just considered it an ”exit tax”.

 

[D19]

Well they certainly did, and I heard all about when he arrived hours later than expected with his Lavey in tow. As you might expect he wasn't at all happy about it. This was probably 20 years ago, so perhaps laws have changed. I do seem to recall his choices were following the CHP to Needles OR leave his trailer with his Lavey on it, parked in Videl Jct until he returned with the proper CA registration. Obviously he chose to not leave it parked there.
To bad you weren't there to advise him to tell the officer to piss-off.

I will mention this is a topic that's been bantered about several times over the years on RDP, and several members have chimed in agreeing that it's a No No having a AZ plated trailer behind a CA plated vehicle if they're both in your name.
It's essentially the same CA law that makes you register your vehicle in CA if you move there after X-number of days.

Did he have AZ tags that were expired? CHP doesn’t say leave it on the side of the road. That’s a safety hazard and a parking violation in itself. Did he say something to upset the officer (most I’ve encountered are very nice)? There’s got to a piece of the story missing.

 

[Sharp Shooter]

I received one of those county assessor forms for my ski boat. First time for me receiving something like that. I filled it out and sent it back and haven’t heard anything yet, but it’s only been 2 months.

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

Well they certainly did, and I heard all about when he arrived hours later than expected with his Lavey in tow. As you might expect he wasn't at all happy about it. This was probably 20 years ago, so perhaps laws have changed. I do seem to recall his choices were following the CHP to Needles OR leave his trailer with his Lavey on it, parked in Videl Jct until he returned with the proper CA registration. Obviously he chose to not leave it parked there.
To bad you weren't there to advise him to tell the officer to piss-off.

I will mention this is a topic that's been bantered about several times over the years on RDP, and several members have chimed in agreeing that it's a No No having a AZ plated trailer behind a CA plated vehicle if they're both in your name.
It's essentially the same CA law that makes you register your vehicle in CA if you move there after X-number of days.

How many tickets did he have for the same violation prior?

You need to have a story other than, “Yea I’ve had my AZ registered trailer at my CA house for 5 years now and it’s never been a problem.

Again, all you need to do is break the chain of custody directly to you and say the thing registered out of state will be in CA less than 20 days.

Other states have similar laws, some are not as punitive as CA. So what state’s law are you going to break?