Personal Property Tax on AS?

[nvestysly]

For those of you in Georgia who are paying annual ad valorem taxes on your RV, consider changing the title (more on that later) so you can pay the one-time tax/fee and stop paying the annual tax/fee.

A few years ago Georgia switched from annual ad valorem assessments to a one-time (at time of title transfer) assessment. Existing vehicles remain in the annual scenario and any new (or title transfer) vehicles fall into the one-time tax. The one time tax is obviously higher than an annual amount but it only takes a few of the annual payments to equal the one-time amount. Confused? Clear as mud?

We owned a vehicle that was relatively old but but had the annoying annual ad valorem tax. We realized we could change the title from one name to both our names (just a simple title transfer) and this allowed us to choose to pay the one-time ad valorem tax. So for about $100 we paid the up front cost (based on vehicle value) and now we don't have the annoying $40 annual ad valorem. Yes, we still have to register the vehicle for a tag and pay that fee, but not the annual tax.

For more valuable vehicles the annual tax is much higher - some previous posts indicate $1000 for example, in Georgia. So consider transferring the title from one to two names, or vice-versa, pay a higher tax for one year and then never have to pay the tax again. We've bought two different Class B motorhomes in the past five years or so and paid the one-time ad valorem tax. Otherwise, we would have been paying the tax every year and it's surprising how the annual amount adds up.

This doesn't work in every scenario, but it's worth investigating for Georgia residents.

ON EDIT: I see a prior post that indicates the annual ad valorem tax methodology remains in effect for travel trailers in Georgia. That may be true. If so, everything I mentioned above is not true. Still worth doing some research.

SECOND EDIT: Just looked at Georgia Department of Revenue web page. It sure sounds strange to me, but trailers are still taxed annually. Why trailers are excluded from the one-time ad valorem tax beats me. Maybe the legislature didn't want to distinguish travel trailers from mobile homes so they lumped them together.

Regardless, the methodology mentioned above does work for drivable RVs because they are registered on the chassis VIN, not the RV VIN.

[GOUSC]

Originally Posted by JonDNC

in NC its by county. my 2019 27 International was just under 500 personal property tax plus registration which is minimal.

^^^^This. I live in Mooresville, NC which is in Iredell, Co. 2018 Globetrotter is $480. If you are in Mecklenburg Co, where Charlotte is, it would be substantially higher.

[s1000pre]

Need to chime in! Looking to move From MN to NC...I can’t wait. I pay over 9% income tax, 7.5% sales tax, $6,500/yr property tax on 2,500 sqft rambler on a city lot. $920/yr registration on my F150, $650 on my wrangler Sahara, groceries run about 30% higher than NC. I paid over 6k in tax & registration the day I brought my Airstream home. The only thing keeping me sane is our alcohol is roughly 10% cheaper than you guys!!!

[Drtyme]

Originally Posted by Kevinshortnh

We live in Laurens County, South Carolina. We purchased our 2018 Classic 30 for $111K. Our county tax bills for the past three years have been $2,127 (2018), $1,894 (2019), and $1,830 (2020). Ugh! For our sticks-and-bricks home in the same county, valued at $220K, we pay only $819 in property taxes. This is enough to make us leave South Carolina!

You may not know you are able to register your Airstream as a second home in SC and your taxes will be much lower. You do have to go to the county office annually to get the break. We do it every year, makes a difference and for friends with new rigs it makes a huge difference.

[glh101282]

In New Mexico the registration for a 31' AS is about $30/yr. Cost for my 2004 Silverado 2500 HD is about $55.00/yr. I shutter to hear about the cost of driving and RVing in other states. Property tax on a travel trailer is something that I never knew existed. This must surely need to be factored into any calculation when determining places to retire.

Thanks for the heads up.

[nickclifford]

Look into S Dakota plates, you might need to open a 508 1c foundation and move ownership of your trailer & truck to the foundation. Technically, you don't own the trailer & truck, but just using them. This will avoid high taxes (theft).

I haven't done this yet, but heard it's quite common amongst full-time travelers.

[nickclifford]

Originally Posted by s1000pre

Need to chime in! Looking to move From MN to NC...I can’t wait. I pay over 9% income tax, 7.5% sales tax, $6,500/yr property tax on 2,500 sqft rambler on a city lot. $920/yr registration on my F150, $650 on my wrangler Sahara, groceries run about 30% higher than NC. I paid over 6k in tax & registration the day I brought my Airstream home. The only thing keeping me sane is our alcohol is roughly 10% cheaper than you guys!!!

OMG ... wow ... hold on for the ride folks, protect your assets. We're in incredible times of change, these taxes are insane, many states are more than ever desperate for tax income after covid lockdowns.

[nickclifford]

Originally Posted by pmclemore

Here in lovely Virginia my 2012 International 30 is assessed at $36,650 and my tax bill (due shortly) is $1,444.01. We only pay vehicle registration once, when we title it. We are issued permanent tags, so that's something.

I try not to think about it.

Pat

you pay $1440 every year??

[nickclifford]

Originally Posted by Kevinshortnh

We live in Laurens County, South Carolina. We purchased our 2018 Classic 30 for $111K. Our county tax bills for the past three years have been $2,127 (2018), $1,894 (2019), and $1,830 (2020). Ugh! For our sticks-and-bricks home in the same county, valued at $220K, we pay only $819 in property taxes. This is enough to make us leave South Carolina!

that's incredible, how do they get away with this? thought Ca was ground zero for high taxes ..

[nickclifford]

Originally Posted by BurnsTrayler

depending on where you want to live. Dallas, TX hits you hard. They are about to run us out of our home, been there for 26 years. about to go off the grid.

sadly, me too .. lived in my home for 18 yrs, nothing fancy ..1962 1600' rancher, we pay $8,000 every year in taxes. No way I can afford this in old age. People will leave Ca in droves over the coming decade ..

[jdcamp]

We live in NC and the rate depends on the county but the tax this year on our 2007 Safari SE 25 is $16.60. It is appraised by the state at $2000. To the state it’s just a 2007 25 ft travel trailer and is appraised no higher than any other. They just use some sort of book value. It would probably sell between $35 and $40k. We used to live in VA and the taxes would be much higher there.

[KK4YZ]

Originally Posted by brick1

In Georgia you pay an annual ad-Valium tax. It is about $1000 on my 2018 Serenity 28

I guess that was a Freudian slip?😀.... you need Valium when thinking about your ad valorem tax! Just a little levity on a serious topic!

[KK4YZ]

Originally Posted by nickclifford

Look into S Dakota plates, you might need to open a 508 1c foundation and move ownership of your trailer & truck to the foundation. Technically, you don't own the trailer & truck, but just using them. This will avoid high taxes (theft).

I haven't done this yet, but heard it's quite common amongst full-time travelers.

They’re cracking down on that practice in GA. Apparently a lot of folks with high end autos (Lamborghini, Maserati etc) have been doing that for years. GA tax man is coming for ‘em.

[Joe_A]

Here in NC (Lincoln County)
2019 International 30
Appraised value by the county 76,994

County Tax 461.13
Fire Tax 75.44
Registration 15.00
---------
$551.57

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Hi, although my property tax [house only] is high in Oregon. [still about half of California property taxes] Most everything else is cheaper. [less expensive] Gas is cheaper, all utilities except for water are cheaper, insurances and licenses are cheaper, and no sales tax.

[pmclemore]

Originally Posted by nickclifford

you pay $1440 every year??

It 's down a little each year. $1440 is what's due on Dec 5th.

It's the honor and pleasure of paying for the privilege of living in the Old Dominion.

Pat

[Bob May]

In Michigan you pay a one time trailer fee of approximately 200 dollars. This is good for as long as you own your trailer. No annual renewal fee - a permanent trailer plate.

[cwf]

So, if you sell your trailer for a dollar, purchaser still pays based upon an abstract rule...

Hmmm. Guess they figure some folks are living full time in trailers and are an easy “funding resource”...

Please, stay where you are and fix that problem.

[Mwingo]

Agreed! We lived in Fairfax County in VA but stored our 30' Classic in Prince William County for this very reason. I shudder to think what we would have paid in Fairfax.

[nickclifford]

Originally Posted by Mollysdad

I used to invite folks to move to Fl.
No state income tax, no pp tax on RV's, etc.
But no more, too many northerners/Californians are moving here and bringing their ideas with them.

I hope not, most are fleeing tyranny ..