Washington State use tax?

this is the reason we registered our truck and trailer in South Dakota

DrewE wrote:
you typically won't pay the sales and use tax in the purchase state. Many (most?) states offer a transit permit or similar temporary registration for that precise situation.

Great info. I did not realize this. Thanks!

As WyoTraveller alluded to, for vehicles purchased in one state and registered in another, you typically won't pay the sales and use tax in the purchase state. Many (most?) states offer a transit permit or similar temporary registration for that precise situation. (Massachusetts is a big exception; they neither offer transit permits to out of state buyers, nor recognize those of other states for buyers who are Massachusetts residents. They do grudgingly allow those of us residing the other states to travel through with temporary plates en route to our home state.)

If you're transferring plates from a previous vehicle, some states let you move the plates physically to the new vehicle and then do the paperwork a few days later. That can avoid the (usually nominal) transit permit fee when it's an option.

Laws do vary in their specifics, so it's worthwhile to check with the states involved. But I'm not aware of any state that requires out-of-state buyers to pay sales and use tax on vehicle purchases. This is technically a use tax, not a sales tax, charged on the use of the vehicle in the state. (If it were an actual sales tax, their own residents buying vehicles in other states would not have to pay it.)

dons2346 wrote:
If WA tax is less than what you paid, you get no refund.

Thanks so much, everyone.

WA tax less than paid elsewhere? That seems pretty unlikely :):)

There is a form from DMV that you want to have if you are paying less than the blue book you will need the signature of the seller. You only pay tax on what you paid for the vehicle, if you have this form and fill it out.

WA will charge you tax on what they feel the value of the coach is. It makes no difference how old the coach is or what you really paid for it. If you paid $50K and they say it is worth $100K, you pay tax on the 100k

What they will do is use your paperwork showing how much tax you paid to whatever state. If you don't have any proof of paying sales tax, they will assume you paid zero and you will owe whatever the tax board feels is due based on the evaluation of your coach. You will get credit for the amount of tax you have paid to another state

If WA tax is less than what you paid, you get no refund.

Yup it's at registration and you pay the difference, unless the law has changed since I last did that (30+ years ago)

In 2012 we bought a TT in Washington. Since we live in Wyoming we paid no Washington tax. You will need a transport permit either from your state or Washington state.

Since we bought our fiver in Oregon there was no sales tax there. However since we live in Washington in order to register it there we had to pay the sales tax. However Oregonians can come to Washington and by tax free. Go figure!