CrossT

Qwksnke

Tax should only be collected for the state you reside in or where it will be 'tagged' If your state doesn't collect sales tax, you should be in the clear.

i live in Alabama but have bought several cars (including my Porsche) in Georgia. My tax rate on all I have been based off the state and county I live in since taxes are paid when I go to register. Since my local area is only 2.5% on auto sales. I am very thankful. LOL

DesmoSD

CA automobile tax is calculated based on your county and zip code. Since you're in AZ, you wouldn't be taxed.

4Driver4

How would California even find out about the purchase? What leverage would they have to get you to pay?

doclouie

okbarnett

some times, usually, the selling dealer, in TX- will calculate the tax that you have to pay in your state, FL, and charge you for it in the deal. Then when you go to get your tag, the tax has been paid. FL will collect it from Tx

alwayswantedone

Same as above, bought a car out of California about a year ago. Paid Texas sales tax when I licensed it here. One of the few times I wished I could have paid CA tax instead!!!

911wally

Dennis C

dawgcatching

That is unusual. Every dealer in CA I have spoken with says "drive it off the lot and you have to pay tax, registered here or not". Typically in CA, you have to get the car shipped across state lines. Here in Oregon, people often have them dropped off in Klamath Falls and then driven north.

larrysb

Dealers in California have to collect the sales tax if you take the car off the lot, not sure about shipping out of state. Private parties do not have to collect sales tax and you pay when you register the vehicle in your home state. Other states have different rules, I bought a new Corvette in Louisiana a number of years ago and they didn't have to collect sales tax when I picked up the car and drove it home. I had to pay when I registered it in California.

I don't know the rules for cars, but California is sticky about sales/use tax on airplanes. As a private party seller, I wasn't required to collect the sales tax, but the buyer had to take the plane out of state immediately and can't return to California within 12 months. Otherwise, if they spot it, they'll send him a bill for the tax.

jhbrennan

Why...CA tax is 7.5% / TX tax is 6.25%.

Darkhorse

CA is funny about sales tax. I guess that state needs as much revenue as it can squeeze out of anyone with a pulse and a wallet. I bought mine last year from an individual in LA. I did a little research and this is what I discovered:

If you drive the car off after the purchase, even to drive it home to AZ or NV, you owe CA sales tax. But, if you buy the car in CA and ship it to another state, you do not. Then you simply pay to register it in your home state.

jhbrennan

Unless you're buying from a dealer - they are required to collect CA sales tax...but if they can deliver it to you in Nevada, they don't have to collect the tax. I was looking to buy a new Cayenne from a California dealer and driving it home to Texas - here is his response to my question regarding collecting the CA sales tax - "Yes, we can absolutely avoid CA sales tax by hauling it out of state on a truck."

Kurt RSF

When buying an airplane, certain states have what's called a "fly-away" exemption. You can take delivery of the aircraft, fly it to another state immediately and not pay local/state sales tax where you took delivery. It's quite complex. I've done it twice, taking delivery of the aircraft in Charleston, SC, eventually bringing them into California after satisfying certain rules. If you qualify for the "interstate commerce" exemption or the "commercial operator" exemption and keep perfect records, you're exempt from California sales or use tax on the aircraft, as well.

I don't know if a similar exemption exists for buying cars in states other than where you reside; a "drive-away" exemption, if you will. I would think some states probably allow that.