Where to register/insure when full time

[Quint_Da_Man]

I did a search for this type of info and didn't find anything in the forum. Since wife and I plan on going full time when retired my question is if you go full time and do not have a permanent residency anymore how and where do you register your coach and are there states that are more advantageous tax-wise and insurance-wise to do so.

[BobGed]

TechWriter wrote:
If you'll be under 65 when you begin full timing, then forget about the "Big Three" full timer states (SD, FL, and TX). Currently, the Big Three states have lousy full timer health care options for those under 65.

As a full timer, you want a nationwide PPO plan which typically means a plan by BCBS. None of the the Big Three has this.

For those under 65, the cost of buying health care insurance will be much, much more than mail services -- or possibly even paying state taxes.

Look at Nevada as a domicile -- it has no state income tax + every county in Nevada offers nationwide Anthem BCBS PPO plans.

Depending on the age of one's RV I would be careful about choosing NV as we have what is called a Government Services Tax that is based on the year and MSRP of the RV.

While it does go down each year based on a depreciation schedule, it can be pretty expensive in the beginning. For an example a 2016 coach with a MSRP of $350,000 the tax would be approximately $5,000. That will go down 5% the first year and then 10% each subsequent year.

My coach is six years old and my GST for 2015 was ~$1,200.

[prstlk]

Yes I do, what troubles me is people with great wealth getting benefits they don't deserve. Why should someone from let's say NY be allowed to form an llc in Montana to avoid sales tax on a 2 million $ prevost. I'm from a low tax state but that transaction would cost $170,000 in sales tax. If your OK with that fine. Us dumb folks will pick up the slack.

[TechWriter]

Quint Da Man wrote:
I did a search for this type of info and didn't find anything in the forum. Since wife and I plan on going full time when retired my question is if you go full time and do not have a permanent residency anymore how and where do you register your coach and are there states that are more advantageous tax-wise and insurance-wise to do so.

If you'll be under 65 when you begin full timing, then forget about the "Big Three" full timer states (SD, FL, and TX). Currently, the Big Three states have lousy full timer health care options for those under 65.

As a full timer, you want a nationwide PPO plan which typically means a plan by BCBS. None of the the Big Three has this.

For those under 65, the cost of buying health care insurance will be much, much more than mail services -- or possibly even paying state taxes.

Look at Nevada as a domicile -- it has no state income tax + every county in Nevada offers nationwide Anthem BCBS PPO plans.

[nevadanick]

Prstlk, do you take any deductions on your tax return ? As long as a person follows the law there is nothing wrong with reducing your tax burden.

[prstlk]

Am I missing something here? Shouldn't we all pay our fare share of taxes? You want honesty from our present government but don't have the same expectation of yourself?

You can be indignant about our/your governments spending, but dance around your obligations.
Nice

[mowermech]

Dutch_12078 wrote:

Quint Da Man wrote:
Thanks all so much for all this info!!!!!

Much to my dismay although I already knew the answer (but was hoping) is if I buy my coach early, before I retire, I will have to pay Massachusetts sales tax on purchase and excise tax for every year registered in Mass until I finally retire and go fulltime. I was hoping there was a way, like many yacht owners do, to register in a tax friendly state even though I'm still a Mass resident for a few more years.

You may find this document from the Massachusetts Inspector General's office of interest when deciding whether to pursue the Montana LLC option.

It is interesting to note that ALL of the vehicles in Attachment A of the referenced report were observed within the borders of the State Of Massachusetts!
In other words, the owners were simply foolish.
As I previously stated, if owning a Montana LLC to purchase your RV means that you can NEVER bring it "home", DO. NOT. DO. THAT!
Again:
KNOW the laws.
COMPLY with the laws.
DOCUMENT your compliance with the laws.
If you do those three thing, you will not have any problems!

[Dutch_12078]

Quint Da Man wrote:
Thanks all so much for all this info!!!!!

Much to my dismay although I already knew the answer (but was hoping) is if I buy my coach early, before I retire, I will have to pay Massachusetts sales tax on purchase and excise tax for every year registered in Mass until I finally retire and go fulltime. I was hoping there was a way, like many yacht owners do, to register in a tax friendly state even though I'm still a Mass resident for a few more years.

You may find this document from the Massachusetts Inspector General's office of interest when deciding whether to pursue the Montana LLC option.

[mowermech]

Quint Da Man wrote:
Thanks all so much for all this info!!!!!

Much to my dismay although I already new the answer (but was hoping) is if I buy my coach early, before I retire, I will have to pay Massachusetts sales tax on purchase and excise tax for every year registered in Mass until I finally retire and go fulltime. I was hoping there was a way, like many yacht owners do, to register in a tax friendly state even though I'm still a Mass resident for a few more years.

There is. Go ahead and get the Montana LLC, and buy your coach in Montana. BUT, carefully check the laws in Mass. to be VERY sure you fully comply with each and every one of them! It may well be that you can NEVER bring your coach into the State of Massachusetts! You just might have to park it on a storage lot in a neighboring state to avoid problems with Mass. authorities.
As I have said repeatedly:
KNOW the law!
OBEY the law!
DOCUMENT the fact that you have obeyed the law!
And you will have no problems!
An interesting side note to Montana registration is that all vehicles 11 years old or older; all trailers, regardless of size or type; all motorcycles, including street-legal ATV's; and all boats can have PERMANENT registration. After 2017 I will never have to worry about registration renewal!
As for sales tax, IF it is ever passed, it is limited by the State Constitution to no more than 4%. At the present time, there is very little agitation to get such a thing passed. I don't think it will pass anyway, because it would mean that the Wyoming folks would have no reason to shop here!

[Quint_Da_Man]

Thanks all so much for all this info!!!!!

Much to my dismay although I already knew the answer (but was hoping) is if I buy my coach early, before I retire, I will have to pay Massachusetts sales tax on purchase and excise tax for every year registered in Mass until I finally retire and go fulltime. I was hoping there was a way, like many yacht owners do, to register in a tax friendly state even though I'm still a Mass resident for a few more years.

[gafidler]

I am a SD resident, had to stay one night in RV campground to get Drivers license and voter registration, I use http://mydakotaaddress.com/ for my mail forwarding. they have all the information to set up residence and get tags for vehicles.

[donfrump]

I live in A indio RV resort and there are a ton of people whom do the south Dakoda,montana,texas,oregon deal with there diesel pushers

[Two_Jayhawks]

jorbill2or wrote:
Folks generally don't use Montana as Domicile. they establish a corporation in Montana and the corp owns the motorhome based in Montana and Montana plates but the actual owner domiciles elsewhere (with the coach) Its a Quasi Legal tax dodge for those who have to pay lots of vehicle tax on purchase and tags. in their home state. If not done correctly It could be VERY a costly mistake. Not to mention Tax evasion charge.
This subject is all over this forum and others ..i wonder how you could not find it? But Now you have! Don't reinvent the wheel 3 states are the choices for very good reasons.

Actually I have read volumes on the whole Montana LLC subject and that wasn't my question. My fault I should have been more clear. Since many DO register in MT and they don't actually even live there I assumed it would be a good choice if you legally set up domicile there.
Now I know other states are a better choice.

[jorbill2or]

Folks generally don't use Montana as Domicile. they establish a corporation in Montana and the corp owns the motorhome based in Montana and Montana plates but the actual owner domiciles elsewhere (with the coach) Its a Quasi Legal tax dodge for those who have to pay lots of vehicle tax on purchase and tags. in their home state. If not done correctly It could be VERY a costly mistake. Not to mention Tax evasion charge.
This subject is all over this forum and others ..i wonder how you could not find it? But Now you have! Don't reinvent the wheel 3 states are the choices for very good reasons.

[2gypsies1]

We used the Escapees mail forwarding service as our domicile without any problems for 16 years. Their address has been tested in the court system as a legal address. There are a lot more pluses in joining the Escapees, not just getting an address. By the way, we don't think it's expensive as a previous poster states - $95/year plus postage whenever you ask you mail to be forwarded. Nowadays, folks don't get much mail. Everything can be done online. You can also eliminate junk mail very easily. We haven't received junk mail in 20 years.

In the past year there have been many changes in medical insurance and if you're not on Medicare you'll have to sort through it carefully. South Dakota is not good in this respect. You need insurance that you can travel with and use any doctor.

It really isn't difficult to set up domicile, especially with the Escapees RV Club. It can all be done in a day or even a few hours.

Also, many folks think you need your vehicles inspected yearly in Texas. This is not true. You can register online and there's a box to check for travelers. If you don't stay in Texas you don't need inspections.