Seattle area RTA registration tax

[gearchruncher]

Yep, Tesla's contract team fixed it for me today, after telling me yesterday that they were sure it was right at the higher price. I sent them all the relevant law and they got back to me this morning and adjusted it.

Nice win going forward, kinda stinks for everyone before us that paid the ~$600 instead of the $385

 

[UZJedi]

Sweet. Thanks for putting in the work. Now I shouldn't have to mention it when I get my final paperwork.

 

[gearchruncher]

Still worth checking. Your RTA tax should be $385, not a penny more or less.

 

[penguinpetter]

"I'd really not argue about getting it back it after I've paid it." But do you have faith that DOL will use the $35k (less depreciation) next year when the tax is calculated again? In about 3 or 4 years time, if my record is not corrected now, after summing my overages, I might be paying over a grand in taxes more than I should. Not a chance I'll take, best to correct now.

 

[Foxhound199]

I am quite confused by this. So those who already got their car paid more because, why exactly? The DOL couldn't be bothered to look up the starting price of a Model 3? Or Tesla was too slow in providing them the information? Seems like unsatisfactory reasons to be out a few hundred bucks. And then there's the question of what price renewals will be based on...

 

[gearchruncher]

All of this is on Tesla, not the DOL. Tesla's "specialist" in WA had supposedly read the law and decided that they had to charge it on the whole amount they charged you (base + options + destination) because that is the MSRP to them. I wrote them back and forth for a few days and sent them the relevant RCW and WAC, and showed them where the definition of MSRP was (specifically no options or transport) and suddenly they changed their tune and started charging the flat $385 at purchase. It was Tesla that was too lazy to read the law.

DOL only comes in to play when you renew your car, which won't happen until mid-year for the earliest Model 3's. When it does, the DOL now has $35K in the database for the 3 so it will be no issue. That only took one email to the DOL to fix. Tesla was also too lazy to contact the DOL and get the Model 3 in the database.

Anyone that was over-charged was over-charged by Tesla, not the DOL. Probably been happening on the S/X too. If you want a refund, you need to call Tesla.

 

[MarkBrokeIt]

What's the total breakdown of fees for a SEA delivery? Assume 10.1% sales tax on 18k+ (depending on config), 1k delivery, $385 for RTA. Anything else?

 

[MarkBrokeIt]

I sent a FOIA request to the DOR for the sales tax exemption ending to see what the DOR and DOL communicated. We'll see what I get there.

Any news on this? A web search says they have 5d to respond. Not sure if that's just an initial "hey, we're working on it", or if they actually have to produce the records that quickly.

 

[gearchruncher]

What's the total breakdown of fees for a SEA delivery? Assume 10.1% sales tax on 18k+ (depending on config), 1k delivery, $385 for RTA. Anything else?

In Seattle, on a $55K configuration

$1K transportation
$2,496 sales tax
$125.75 Registration/Licensing
$385 RTA

Only sales tax will be different on a different configuration.

 

[gearchruncher]

Any news on this? A web search says they have 5d to respond. Not sure if that's just an initial "hey, we're working on it", or if they actually have to produce the records that quickly.

The response I got almost immediately was:

Consistent with RCW 42.56.520, additional time is needed to locate and assemble records and to determine whether any information is exempt. We estimate to complete this request on or about May 21, 2018. However, we anticipate producing an installment or update on or about May 14, 2018.

 

[Foxhound199]

Hmm, after initially getting a pretty responsive DOL representative, I got transferred to someone who never made contact. Tesla also has been unresponsive. I'm not so much mad about the extra couple hundred bucks I already paid, I'm just curious if this will be considered the MSRP for the life of my vehicle. That could be thousands of dollars more than if they calculated it correctly.

 

[gearchruncher]

What's the question? It's right on the DOL page at $35K. You'll be charged based on the depreciating $35K going forward.

 

[Foxhound199]

What's the question? It's right on the DOL page at $35K. You'll be charged based on the depreciating $35K going forward.

But that's not the number on my registration. It is based off of an MSRP of $52500, which would probably require someone actively updating to change. Don't have a lot of faith in the DOL proactively making sure I'm not paying too much.

 

[gearchruncher]

But that's not the number on my registration. It is based off of an MSRP of $52500, which would probably require someone actively updating to change. Don't have a lot of faith in the DOL proactively making sure I'm not paying too much.

Tesla put that number on your registration, not the DOL. Tesla is the one that screwed that up. But future registrations have zero to do with your purchase price.

 

[UZJedi]

My purchase agreement paperwork has the correct amount of $385 for the RTA tax. Thanks to @gearchruncher and others for putting in the effort to correct that costly error.

 

[Foxhound199]

Tesla put that number on your registration, not the DOL. Tesla is the one that screwed that up. But future registrations have zero to do with your purchase price.

I still have my doubts, but I guess we can always open this discussion back up in 10 months. If I put my VIN into the tab estimator on DOL's website, it shows MSRP of $52500. I know that's Tesla's mistake, but it's still attached to the VIN, and someone will have to actively change it.

For everyone who overpaid, is it worth trying to get that money back? Has anyone successfully gotten either Tesla or the DOL to issue a refund?

 

[gearchruncher]

I put in my VIN and it says $35K. Hard to believe the database has the value of every car down to the VIN....
Care to share your VIN so I can look it up?

 

[Foxhound199]

I put in my VIN and it says $35K. Hard to believe the database has the value of every car down to the VIN....
Care to share your VIN so I can look it up?

Actually, I just checked it again and it has changed from $52,500 to $35,000. The system works! Now I'm curious if a refund will be issued...

This has definitely changed in the past couple weeks.

 

[Foxhound199]

Today, I received a letter from the Department of Licensing stating that following a review in response to my inquiry, they had determined I will be refunded for the discrepancy in the RTA between the MSRP and the sale price. Kudos to the DOL for getting this sorted out, and I would highly recommend anyone who paid an RTA based on a value higher than $35k to contact the DOL as well.

 

[mister yub]

The response I got almost immediately was:

Any updates?