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Bought/Sold a car within a year in Massachusetts

 

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Bought/Sold a car within a year in Massachusetts zutalors212 11-13-2006
Posted by zutalors212 on November 13, 2006, 7:49 pm
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I've got some questions on the purchase and subsequent sales
of a 2nd hand car.

1. I paid a 5% tax on this car the day that I purchased it. Could I
get a reimbursement since I didn't use the car for the whole year?

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Posted by Herb Smith on November 14, 2006, 8:28 pm
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zutalors212@yahoo.com wrote:

> I've got some questions on the purchase and subsequent sales
> of a 2nd hand car.
>
> 1. I paid a 5% tax on this car the day that I purchased it.
> Could I get a reimbursement since I didn't use the car for
> the whole year?

Are you serious? The state collects sales tax each time the
property changes hands, regardless of how long it was held
by the previous owner. Registration fees are collected
annually, whether you have the car for one year or one week.
There is no reimbursement to the seller, but the buyer
probably doesn't have to pay another registration fee for
the remainder of the year (in some states).

<< ======================================================= >>
<< The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, >>
<< nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties >>
<< that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. >>
<< >>
<< The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts >>
<< to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy >>
<< are at www.asktax.org. >>
<< Copyright (2006) - All rights reserved. >>
<< ======================================================= >>

Posted by dpb on November 15, 2006, 10:05 pm
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Herb Smith wrote:
> zutalors212@yahoo.com wrote:

>> I've got some questions on the purchase and subsequent sales
>> of a 2nd hand car.
>>
>> 1. I paid a 5% tax on this car the day that I purchased it.
>> Could I get a reimbursement since I didn't use the car for
>> the whole year?

> Are you serious? The state collects sales tax each time the
> property changes hands, regardless of how long it was held
> by the previous owner. Registration fees are collected
> annually, whether you have the car for one year or one week.
> There is no reimbursement to the seller, but the buyer
> probably doesn't have to pay another registration fee for
> the remainder of the year (in some states).

And in this state, if it's a private sale as opposed to a
dealer, the value is assessed from "Blue Book" values for
tax purposes rather than a reported sales price to ensure
reported sale price isn't lowballed.

Also here registration fees are reimbursable to the seller
on a pro rata basis, but not on a linear schedule, and the
new owner will have to pay a new registration fee which
includes the personal property tax on the vehicle (which is
actually what is reimbursible).

<< ======================================================= >>
<< The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, >>
<< nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties >>
<< that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. >>
<< >>
<< The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts >>
<< to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy >>
<< are at www.asktax.org. >>
<< Copyright (2006) - All rights reserved. >>
<< ======================================================= >>

Posted by Katie on November 15, 2006, 10:05 pm
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zutalors212@yahoo.com wrote:

> I've got some questions on the purchase and subsequent sales
> of a 2nd hand car.
>
> 1. I paid a 5% tax on this car the day that I purchased it. Could I
> get a reimbursement since I didn't use the car for the whole year?

Not if it was sales tax. The sales/use tax is not an annual
tax; it is a tax imposed on the sale transaction and would
apply if you had used the car for only one day.

Unless it qualifies for an occasional sale exception (as
sales of vehicles by private parties often do, depending on
the state), your sale of the car to a third party is also
subject to sales tax.

If the tax you paid was a registration fee or ad valorem tax
paid on registration, it is paid for the period you use the
car -- no refund for a partial year. The subsequent owner
may get a few months' free ride on your registration fee,
again depending on state law.

Katie in San Diego

<< ======================================================= >>
<< The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, >>
<< nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties >>
<< that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. >>
<< >>
<< The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts >>
<< to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy >>
<< are at www.asktax.org. >>
<< Copyright (2006) - All rights reserved. >>
<< ======================================================= >>

Posted by Drew Edmundson on November 17, 2006, 1:19 am
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> zutalors212@yahoo.com wrote:

>> I've got some questions on the purchase and subsequent sales
>> of a 2nd hand car.
>>
>> 1. I paid a 5% tax on this car the day that I purchased it. Could I
>> get a reimbursement since I didn't use the car for the whole year?

> Not if it was sales tax. The sales/use tax is not an annual
> tax; it is a tax imposed on the sale transaction and would
> apply if you had used the car for only one day.
>
> Unless it qualifies for an occasional sale exception (as
> sales of vehicles by private parties often do, depending on
> the state), your sale of the car to a third party is also
> subject to sales tax.
>
> If the tax you paid was a registration fee or ad valorem tax
> paid on registration, it is paid for the period you use the
> car -- no refund for a partial year. The subsequent owner
> may get a few months' free ride on your registration fee,
> again depending on state law.

A bit off topic, in NC you can actually get a partial refund
of the personal property tax. I have never personally found
it worth the effort because I usually drive my cars until
they are almost worthless.

---
Drew Edmundson, CPA
Cary, NC

<< ======================================================= >>
<< The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, >>
<< nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties >>
<< that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. >>
<< >>
<< The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts >>
<< to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy >>
<< are at www.asktax.org. >>
<< Copyright (2006) - All rights reserved. >>
<< ======================================================= >>

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