Anyway to avoid paying Seattle area sales tax on a Tesla?

[im.thatoneguy]

Just want to make it clear that I live a suburb of Seattle (~3w/mo) and a town in northern Idaho(~1w/mo). My current car, drivers license, voter registration, etc are all in Idaho still.

To be clear that only means you are illegally late in transferring your residency for drivers license and voter registration as well.

 

[Teedub21]

According to the FAQ PDF https://www.dol.wa.gov/vehicleregistration/docs/faq-altfuleexemptions.pdf they list total price of new vehicle under $45k tax exemption, however it also states total lease payments under $45k as well. If the total lease payment wording is indeed the sum of total payments made over a lease term... seems like a good way to save on sales tax on a car that exceeds $45k MSRP.

I called and asked the DOL about this because I'd considered leasing a long range if this was possible. It is just poorly worded. The MSRP including all options and fees still has to be under $45k even if leasing. I ended up buying an SR+ because the thought of avoiding $2500 in sales tax to Washington was worth it.

 

[silverelan]

I called and asked the DOL about this because I'd considered leasing a long range if this was possible. It is just poorly worded. The MSRP including all options and fees still has to be under $45k even if leasing. I ended up buying an SR+ because the thought of avoiding $2500 in sales tax to Washington was worth it.

Moral of the story is, if you're a WA resident, you can avoid Seattle-Bellevue sales taxes legally by purchasing the vehicle in Spokane.

 

[acarney]

Moral of the story is, if you're a WA resident, you can avoid Seattle-Bellevue sales taxes legally by purchasing the vehicle in Spokane.

Correct, but just because you purchase in Spokane you will NOT be able to make the Long Range Model 3 qualify for the sales tax exemption. The difference on $30,000 between Spokane and Seattle-Bellevue isn't going to be that much... maybe a few hundred dollars, not up to $2,500 like the sales tax exemption.

 

[climbbike]

Set up a Montana LLC and register it there.

The Pitfalls Of The Montana License Plate Scam

 

[Yarder]

If you are a land owner outside of the metro area, you can change your voter registration to your vacation home, within a day. Then register your car in that county. And get a post office box in McCleary, $50. a year.

 

[pv_cap]

Set up a Montana LLC and register it there.

Hey Rockster,

Have you successfully financed a Tesla in a Montana LLC? I have a real MT company and was considering doing this but some dealers / lenders are finicky about selling and financing to a MT company. Was curious if you have actually been able to do it with Tesla specifically. Thanks