[dutch]

So I am flying down this weekend to Arizona to purchase a 335i. In the out the door price he sent me, there was an area for sales tax quoted. I had always heard that you paid tax in the state where you register the vehicle. I called my local county's treasurer office to confirm. They did.

I called the salesman at the dealership I had been speaking with and he emailed me a federal form they use and said that there is some sort of reciprocity agreement between Arizona and Kansas, where I will be registering the vehicle.

I have a good friend who owns a dealership around town and called and asked him about it. He said he had never heard of such a thing.

So now I'm really confused and I can't call the county until tomorrow as they are now closed for the day. So has anyone had any experience with something like this when buying out of state? I am really just trying to avoid paying taxes twice.

I have attached the document that the dealer sent me if it helps at all.

Thanks!

[HTMBmw]

You have to pay tax in which state the vehicle you are registering to...in your case you should be paying the tax at the same place you register that particular car in.

[N55]

^ +1

[Octet]

One way to avoid local sales tax is to have the vehicle shipped to you with and have the proper paperwork to take to be registered in your state.

[dutch]

I appreciate all the replies. I was able to get a hold of the county treasure's office this morning. They informed me that both Arizona and California are able to accept the tax and then they send it to the state of Kansas. So it looks like I'm all set. I'm going to the bank tonight to pick up a check, and then flying out tomorrow to pick up the car! Wish me luck!

[phinhead34]

Keep us posted and put up some pics once you get the car.

[tony20009]

Sales tax is fairly uncommon on vehicles. In most places one pays titling tax, not sales tax. Titling tax is paid to the state/district in which one will register the car. Generally, if you buy a car in a state near the one in which the car will be registered, the two states will have an agreement (the reciprocity you mentioned) whereby businesses in the purchasing state will remit to the state of registry the tax amounts paid by customers.

It can be the same way with income taxes. I live in DC, but my technical place of work is VA. But any income I earn while working in VA is remitted to DC and VA collects nothing. That happens that way because DC and VA have a reciprocity agreement. When I go to NY to work with a client there, I incur NY income tax and the firm will pay the tax to NY. DC will allow me an income tax credit for the taxes I paid to NY.

States establish these reciprocity agreement so as not to hinder businesses from selling to or employing people who live in an adjacent state.

[jstegman]

I had very similar situation a few months back when I flew to FL to buy my 335 and drove it back to IL. When we went to the DMV in FL they wanted me to pay the IL tax there in cash in order to get a temporary plate for the drive home. They told me they'd transfer the money to IL. I was extremely uncomfortable with this and so I put my old IL plate on the car for the drive home just so I wouldn't get pulled over for no plate. Then when I got home in IL I went to my DMV, paid the tax and got my IL plates. This worked for me but the risk is you get pulled over and your plates won't match. Just make sure you have the bill of sale with you or they'll think its stolen.

[HTMBmw]

All the best of luck, would like to see the beauty