Be aware that in California a battery core deposit has sales tax charged on it which you will not get back. When I returned my old batteries for the core deposit refunds the sales tax was not returned. Per O'Reilly Auto Customer Satisfaction Department, who referenced the California State Law "Tax paid with respect to the core deposit should not be refunded or credited to the customer" The core deposit on each battery was $22.00 so tax on two batteries was $3.96. I have concluded that to be a cheap enough cost for the lesson I learned - take the old batteries in with you when you purchase new batteries so there will be no core deposits to deal with and no sales tax taken.

Calif. State of emergency and state of taxation,.

So, do they charge sales tax on bottle deposits too?

Right on. If I had a farm in California and a home in Hell I'd sell the farm and go home.

Sounds a little fishy. I know in Florida the sales tax on cores have to be refunded. I would check with Department of taxation.Someone ripping you off, either it is O'Reilly or the state and personally, I would like to know which one it is.

Not just California.. Some other states do it that way as well (Sorry no list) Last time I did a CORE it was that way.. NOt sure which of 3 states that was.I have had it happen though where I carried the dead in and took the new out.. "Trade in" rather than "CORE" and was charged tax only on the "Difference"(IE: battery 79.95 core 5.00 taxed on 74.95) Do not know if that would work in CA

California Battery Core Deposit | Good Sam Community

CavemanCharlie
Explorer III
Apr 01, 2015
Um, I don't know what a battery core deposit is?

When ever I buy a battery it means I need a new battery so I have the old one with me and just drop it off at the place where I got the new battery.

Just to be on the safe side I do keep a old dead battery around at all times so that if the battery I'm replacing is not that bad I can keep it around for awhile longer and put it in something else not so important. Like one of my old cars or something.
path1
Explorer
Mar 31, 2015
Your lucky. Don't know if its changed or not, but years ago I bought an extra battery to add to the existing battery in the trailer and was charged for not having a battery to turn in.

But then again the neighbor was wondering why you pay tax on hay and pay tax again when you buy manure?
wa8yxm
Explorer III
Mar 31, 2015
Not just California.. Some other states do it that way as well (Sorry no list) Last time I did a CORE it was that way.. NOt sure which of 3 states that was.

I have had it happen though where I carried the dead in and took the new out.. "Trade in" rather than "CORE" and was charged tax only on the "Difference"

(IE: battery 79.95 core 5.00 taxed on 74.95) Do not know if that would work in CA
Dog_Folks
Explorer
Mar 31, 2015
Sounds a little fishy. I know in Florida the sales tax on cores have to be refunded.

I would check with Department of taxation.

Someone ripping you off, either it is O'Reilly or the state and personally, I would like to know which one it is.
jwmII
Explorer
Mar 31, 2015
Right on. If I had a farm in California and a home in Hell I'd sell the farm and go home.
Water-Bug
Explorer II
Mar 31, 2015
So, do they charge sales tax on bottle deposits too?
YC_1
Nomad
Mar 31, 2015
Calif. State of emergency and state of taxation,.

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California Battery Core Deposit

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