Taxable Value

[Max49]

I live in Colorado, just bought this 2018 W243 for $70,000 + about $5800 tax a month ago.

I got "Title Complete" notice from Colorado which means come buy your tags. They don't tell us how much the tags are going to cost because, I'm sure they are embarassed, but the tag costs are based on the taxable value.

They put the taxable value at $98,416 . And they will not change this even if I show them my invoice. I'm going to guess tags are going to cost between 2 & $3000. But they thank veterans by giving them veteran tags for an extra $50

How much do you guys pay for the first year tags on a new motorhome?

I'll probably wait til March because if I go down in Feb, I just give them an extra month, I'll post back the final cost.

[Daycruiser]

You won't find a lot of retirees moving too CO for the very reason you sight. CO has a reputation for having a high cost of living and that includes taxes and fees. Various States have different ways of taxing RVs and how they derive those taxes and fees. NC uses book value at 3% plus local property tax rate the first year, other states use book value and the current sales tax rate whatever that might be. Lots of differences across the 50 states.

[BirdeeGirl]

$84.00 in New Jersey

[wrapperman]

In Texas the sales tax is 6.25% of the purchased price, not the value that they assign. $100,000 sales price is $6,250. Then each year the tags have been $216. No property tax any year so just the tag renewal. Too bad about how much they think you should pay, doesn't sound right.
Are your tags going to cost you 2 to $3,000 per year?

[wrapperman]

Originally Posted by BirdeeGirl

$84.00 in New Jersey

Does the state of New Jersey or any taxing authority assess property taxes each year on your RV?

[doc73]

$35 a year for reg fees..

[67L48]

Originally Posted by Max49

[...] They put the taxable value at $98,416 . And they will not change this even if I show them my invoice. I'm going to guess tags are going to cost between 2 & $3000. [...]

Taxable value is based on the MSRP of the vehicle you register. Your invoice is what you paid. For registration fees (ownership tax/excise tax), it wouldn't make any sense to base it on what you paid ... only what the item is worth.

In CO, there's generally a published schedule on this. The taxable value will never change, but the factor will. It should be something like 80% of the MSRP and then 2.1%, 1.5%, 1.2%, 0.9%, and 0.45% for years 1 through 5, respectively. Stays at 0.45% until year 10, I believe.

So, if you buy a $100,000 motorhome for $50,000, you will pay ownership tax of $1,680 when your first register it (100,000 * 0.8 * 0.021). The taxable value of this motorhome will forever be $80,000. It doesn't matter that you got a screaming deal at $50K. Your sales tax would have benefited from that, but not your annual ownership tax.

Colorado isn't as secretive about this as you seem to believe. Here is a guide on taxation and fees. Here is a page that summarizes the difference between the registration fees and the ownership/use/excise tax you pay. Here is a table that looks like I described above. Colorado statutes are also public and can be read. Also, many (not all) counties have a registration fee estimator on their clerk/registrar page.

If your taxable value is $98,416, then the Y2 property tax (1.5%) will be about $1,500. If this is a brand new 2018 motorhome, they might apply the Y1 tax rate. I'm not sure. But, there will be about $60 - $100 of other various fees (bridge taxes and such).

You can try the Montana loophole, but CO is pretty vigilant about that, so I wouldn't recommend it.

Originally Posted by Max49

[...] But they thank veterans by giving them veteran tags for an extra $50 [...]

That's a bit misleading. Standard license plates are about $2. If you opt for a specialty plate, such as veterans, you pay between $30 - $100, depending on what plate you opt for. But, it's not mandatory. It's not as if they penalize vets $50! If you want a specialty plate, you can opt to do so and pay that fee. If you think the fee is too high, then don't get the specialized plate.

Anyway, I hope that helps.

[BirdeeGirl]

In New Jersey you pay a flat registration fee. Not sure how it’s based but my Dodge pickup is the same price. There’s no property tax on the rv.

[wrapperman]

Originally Posted by BirdeeGirl

In New Jersey you pay a flat registration fee. Not sure how it’s based but my Dodge pickup is the same price. There’s no property tax on the rv.

Thanks BirdeeGirl. The state of New Jersey Jersey is good to own an RV in.

[Jfkmk]

Originally Posted by wrapperman

Does the state of New Jersey or any taxing authority assess property taxes each year on your RV?

No, but don’t give them any ideas.

[Mtelkman]

$172 for permanent registration/tags on my 5th wheel in Montana. We have no sales tax so I didn't pay any tax even though I purchased it new in WA.

[wrapperman]

Originally Posted by Jfkmk

No, but don’t give them any ideas.

[emoji23]

[BarabooBob]

Here in Wisconsin the sales tax is 5.5% (5.6% in some tourist areas) Registration for most MH is $119.50/yr. Some municipalities charge $25 wheel tax.

[BirdeeGirl]

[emoji106]You’re probably right! If they can squeeze a buck out of you,they will!

[Mr. October]

Originally Posted by wrapperman

Thanks BirdeeGirl. The state of New Jersey Jersey is good to own an RV in.

That's about it though. They tax you for everything else or make it illegal. (NJ escapee here.)

[KEliasz]

NJ resident here. I cant wait to retire and move away. 7 years left at my job for 25 years and full pension. I'll be 48. But like BirdeeGirl said. Flat rate for registration, extra $50 if you want custom tags. And you pay the sales tax at purchase. That's all.

[JohnD10]

Take a quick trip up to Rapid City, South Dakota and go to America's Mailbox (that is their website name as well).

I did just that last year on my way out of Colorado before I moved to Arizona.

Plates for my truck and 5'ver would have been close to $1700 in Colorado, but in SD they were around $300 + the $150/year mailbox address fee.

Go here to read up on it...

Americas-Mailbox Home - mail forwarding - Americas-Mailbox

[Max49]

Originally Posted by JohnD10

Take a quick trip up to Rapid City, South Dakota and go to America's Mailbox (that is their website name as well).

I did just that last year on my way out of Colorado before I moved to Arizona.

Plates for my truck and 5'ver would have been close to $1700 in Colorado, but in SD they were around $300 + the $150/year mailbox address fee.

Go here to read up on it...

Americas-Mailbox Home - mail forwarding - Americas-Mailbox

I read this too late, and we go to the Badlands area most years.

1st year tags were $943 after they gave me $700 credit for 6 months of my last motorhome.

It ain't cheap living in a liberal state that just had to beat CA, Seatle or Portland to be the first to bless marijuana. Now they are talking about free needles to the needy.

Tags will go down a little every year and in 20 years they will be $83 at todays rates.

So, how do you get your mail from Americas Mailbox when you are out of state?