Danged Tax Office

[montmil]

Was out with the R65 yesterday; playing with the new Vapor digital instrumentation. Minding my manners but a police car pulled up next to me as I was in the left turn lane... using my turn signals like a good Scout.

My pucker factor gauge went redline. I'm riding around on a scooter with an expired license plate and no inspection sticker. As a long time off-road rider, I don't even have the Texas "M" (for motorcycle) endorsement on my drivers license. At least I have insurance.

Decided to stand on line for an hour at the county tax office and pony up for the title transfer and a new license plate. Couple years ago, you could tell the clerk, "I paid $75 for an old junker to restore", sign an affidavit, and that's what you would pay state tax on... $75.00.

Now, the "Liar's Affidavit" has disappeared and they have a value for everything and you are charged 80% of that value. The State of Texas sez my 1981 R65 is worth $2365 so I'm to pay tax on $1892.00. Plus the fees for title transfer and a new plate. Jeez.

I stroll outta that tax office after handing over $195.05 for the privilege of registering my scooter. Did I pay $2365 for the R65? Not hardly. Not close.

So, that's my rant for today... unless some anti-Second Amendment gun-control issue pops up.  [smiley=furious3.gif]

[MrRiden]

$2365!! I do believe that is over or at the original selling price! Seems it should be less due to depreciation. I'd like to know just how they set the value. Seems squirrelly to me even if it is worth that much to an enthusiast!
rich

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

$2365!! I do believe that is over or at the original selling price!

Pretty close, anyway, Rich!

I paid $3600 for my '79 in 1980.  Then BMW went and dropped the price in 1980 on the new models!
Something like $3200, maybe a little less.  Bob Roller would know, but I am afraid we have lost Bob for a little while.  He has had a glitch keeping him off the forum at home for a few weeks now... :-/

[Ed Miller]

I wouldn't sell mine for that.  These things are holding their value pretty well, you know!  

I hate states where the fee is related to the value of the vehicle.  In Oregon all similar vehicles pay the same rate.  We all wear the roads out the same way so it makes sense.

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

We have that "VAT" here in Indiana - it is called "Escrow Tax".

[Bob_Roller]

Here in Arizona, we have a registration tax on vehicles, based on the the original manufactureres suggested price.

It starts out at a tax rate of 80% of the manufacturers price, and I forget the percentage rate of the tax, but I believe it's around 10%  and then goes down 18 % per year, until a rate of $18 a year is reached, if this makes any sense to anyone.

My '02 R1150R had a registration cost for the first year of $275.

My R65's cost is $18 a year.

The first year registration for my '01 BMW Z-3 cage, was $740.  

[Justin B.]

Well, Monte, that may have just put the final nail in the coffin for the poor "Junkyard LS".  I'm about a tenth away from parting it out and a big tax bill like that may just push me over the edge...

[montmil]

Well, Monte, that may have just put the final nail in the coffin for the poor "Junkyard LS".  I'm about a tenth away from parting it out and a big tax bill like that may just push me over the edge...

IM me when you get so torked you really want to let it go.   Monte

[Justin B.]

I'm going to check with our Tax Assessor's office.  Surely there are some provisions for resurrected/restored vehicles - especially with the "before" pics that reveal just how nasty and clapped out it is/was...  Maybe Denton County has a democrat for a Tax Assessor?  

[montmil]

Surely there are some provisions for resurrected/restored vehicles - especially with the "before" pics that reveal just how nasty and clapped out it is/was...

Save yourself the aggravation, Justin. The "Liar's Affidavit" is state-wide. I tried, but no joy.

And just in case... I checked about Texas Antique Vehicle tags. "Sure, you can get one, Mr Miller. Just pony up for the regular tag and then shell out some more for the vintage 'vanity' plate. Or, you can find a plate from the year your bike was built and Texas will let you run that as your 'official' plate... right after you buy the real one."

No thanks. I'll pass.

[trolle]

Come on, guys! My heart bleeds.

I pay app. $100 per year in tax and payed a registration fee of $4,000 for a bike costing me $2,200. On top of that I have to pay $8.33 per gallon of gasoline!

But then my children have free access to colleges and universities  with their living costs subsidized and health care is free as well so at this point in our life we probably have recieved education and healthcare for three children amounting to $500,000.

I hope that your next president will succeed in building a national health care system free for all.

greetings from a partly sunny north with good riding conditions

trolle

[montmil]

Come on, guys! My heart bleeds.

I pay app. $100 per year in tax and payed a registration fee of $4,000 for a bike costing me $2,200. On top of that I have to pay $8.33 per gallon of gasoline!

But then my children have free access to colleges and universities  with their living costs subsidized and health care is free as well so at this point in our life we probably have recieved education and healthcare for three children amounting to $500,000.

I hope that your next president will succeed in building a national health care system free for all.

greetings from a partly sunny north with good riding conditions

trolle

My brother and his wife just returned from a Euro trip. Bought her new Volvo at the factory and had it shipped to Dallas. Says he's a Republican but with his n' hers Volvos ?... I expect a Subaru Forrester to show up in the drive sometime soon. They toured some northern countries including Denmark and Estonia (?). Bro' shared with me about your vehicle taxes. Don't think so!

I'll take a pass on the social programs, too...

[Ed Miller]

Come on, guys! My heart bleeds.

I pay app. $100 per year in tax and payed a registration fee of $4,000 for a bike costing me $2,200. On top of that I have to pay $8.33 per gallon of gasoline!

But then my children have free access to colleges and universities  with their living costs subsidized and health care is free as well so at this point in our life we probably have recieved education and healthcare for three children amounting to $500,000.

I hope that your next president will succeed in building a national health care system free for all.

greetings from a partly sunny north with good riding conditions

trolle

Ouch!  But I don't have kids, so much of that is just extra expense to me.  Oh brother.

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

My brother and his wife just returned from a Euro trip. Says he's a Republican but with his n' hers Volvos ?...

Maybe he is a Ron Paul Republican?  

[montmil]

My brother and his wife just returned from a Euro trip. Says he's a Republican but with his n' hers Volvos ?...

Maybe he is a Ron Paul Republican?  

Ron Paul has his head and heart in the right place but, like Don Quixote, he's just jousting with windmills in a two-party system. I appreciate the man's integrity; something that seems to be out of style in today's political scene.

Let the flame wars begin  

What's funny is that Kinky Freidman whipped a number of "professional" politicians in his recent bid for the Texas White House.

Accused by a campaign opponent of drinking a beer while riding in the backseat of a convertible during a Dallas St. Patty's Day parade, -in violation of Texas' open container law- Kinky paraphrased ex-prez Clinton by saying, "Yes, I was drinking a beer but I didn't swallow."  [smiley=beerchug.gif]