WA State EV Sales Tax Exemption Updated

[melindav]

the law does not reference manufacturer at all and the tax exemption is only counting the vehicles since July 2015, so on the link that counted thru June 2016, roughly it would be the June 2016 numbers minus the June 2015 numbers, 3,546 (plus whatever has been registered since).

 

[Foxhound199]

Wow, it seems that getting some straight answers from DOL will be very relevant to Model 3 buyers. I'm guessing in the PNW, a lot of early reservation holders are holding out for AWD, but that decision could cost them $3000 in sales taxes if this thing doesn't get extended.

 

[MikeBur]

Thanks all, particularly @iwannam3 for playing the game of telephone

@Foxhound199, that's exactly why I revisited this. I would much much prefer the awd up here, though that's making a 5k decision closer to an 8.5k decision...

 

[Foxhound199]

a 5k decision closer to an 8.5k decision...

It looks like it's going to be a tough choice. Wonder if there would be any traction on getting it extended, assuming it doesn't expire before the next session? If I have any silver lining for you, AWD probably won't cost $5k:

Elon Musk on Twitter

 

[whitex]

Wow, it seems that getting some straight answers from DOL will be very relevant to Model 3 buyers. I'm guessing in the PNW, a lot of early reservation holders are holding out for AWD, but that decision could cost them $3000 in sales taxes if this thing doesn't get extended.

Getting a straight answers from almost any part of the government is a monumental task. Clarity and transparency make it difficult for politicians to line their own pockets. They do learn though, after the monorail fiasco their most recent highway robbery is the RTA tax hike ($2K extra per year for our household) for which we are promised some public transportation in 20 years (yes, that is not a typo, twenty). In twenty years, do you think we'll be able to get any straight answers where the money went?

 

[zmarty]

The clock is ticking until the first Model 3 deliveries I cannot find clear information about the sales tax in WA, any more info?

 

[zmarty]

The only thing I found is: http://www.dol.wa.gov/vehicleregistration/docs/faq-altfuleexemptions.pdf

"The tax exemption threshold to a vehicle’s base model Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) increased from $35,000 to $42,500 or less."

What exactly is the MSRP mean for Model 3? Do they mean the base price of $35,000 or do they mean the actual price that I will pay for my car (including any options that I choose)?

 

[Foxhound199]

Do they mean the base price of $35,000 or do they mean the actual price that I will pay for my car (including any options that I choose)?

Thankfully, it's written in such a way that the limit is based on the base price. That means that even if you option your Model 3 above $42,500, all Model 3's are eligible.

 

[iwannam3]

I'm diving deep into the bureaucracy of the Department of Licensing and the Department of Revenue. I have had to file a public record request with the DOL to get the number of vehicles that have had the sales tax exemption that count toward the 7,500 limit. One would think they had that number available daily, but this is the last thing I got from them. Seems like a simple SQL query would pull it up in a second or less.

"The information you have requested is part of our database systems. We will work with a team of programmers to identify the data points that are responsive to your request and then extract them for you. The Public Records Act (RCW 42.56.010) does not require the agency to create new documents, nor to manipulate, analyze, or interpret the data in any way.

I will need an additional 20 business days. You can expect a response on or before August 22, 2017."

 

[Foxhound199]

Nice! Hope this gets us somewhere. Crazy how it's like they never foresaw this information being relevant to the public. I also noticed that in the law, the DOL is required to report the number regularly to the legislative transportation committee. My representative sits on that committee, so I reached out to her regarding the status of the credit and asked if there is interest in extending the credit in the future. I haven't heard back yet.

 

[Foxhound199]

I'm starting to wonder if literally no one was keeping track and the credits would've continued unnoticed until expiring in 2019. But now that we bring it up, they'll discover it's time to stop the program.

 

[whitex]

"The information you have requested is part of our database systems. We will work with a team of programmers to identify the data points that are responsive to your request and then extract them for you. The Public Records Act (RCW 42.56.010) does not require the agency to create new documents, nor to manipulate, analyze, or interpret the data in any way.

I will need an additional 20 business days. You can expect a response on or before August 22, 2017."

Well, if the database is considered a document, and they are not allowed to create new ones of manipulate, maybe they just deliver the entire database?

 

[Yarder]

I wish they would have structured the law to include used vehicles from both inside and outside the state of Washington.

 

[Foxhound199]

I wish they would have structured the law to include used vehicles from both inside and outside the state of Washington.

It indirectly lowers the cost of used EVs. If you can go out and get a new one and save $7500, it already drives down what someone would be willing to pay for it used. Just look at used Leaf prices. There are many dirt cheap ones that aren't too old and don't have many miles. Same goes for sales tax exemption.

 

[Yarder]

It indirectly lowers the cost of used EVs. If you can go out and get a new one and save $7500, it already drives down what someone would be willing to pay for it used. Just look at used Leaf prices. There are many dirt cheap ones that aren't too old and don't have many miles. Same goes for sales tax exemption.

I got my Tesla from Nevada. So, when I went to license mine, I had to pay WA sales tax on the purchase price. So, no one got the WA sales tax exemption. Not talking about the federal $7500.

 

[melindav]

I got my Tesla from Nevada. So, when I went to license mine, I had to pay WA sales tax on the purchase price. So, no one got the WA sales tax exemption. Not talking about the federal $7500.

Current Tesla’s would not qualify if in state or otherwise due to the value cap.
If back prior to the cap you could have filed a form to be exempted for a qualified out of state purchased (if it qualified in state).
Living in SW Wa and will pick my Model 3 up from Portland had checked on this as soon as the law was revised last year to included cars up to $42500.

 

[melindav]

I'm diving deep into the bureaucracy of the Department of Licensing and the Department of Revenue. I have had to file a public record request with the DOL to get the number of vehicles that have had the sales tax exemption that count toward the 7,500 limit. One would think they had that number available daily, but this is the last thing I got from them. Seems like a simple SQL query would pull it up in a second or less.

"The information you have requested is part of our database systems. We will work with a team of programmers to identify the data points that are responsive to your request and then extract them for you. The Public Records Act (RCW 42.56.010) does not require the agency to create new documents, nor to manipulate, analyze, or interpret the data in any way.

I will need an additional 20 business days. You can expect a response on or before August 22, 2017."

the last report was published September 15, 2016, so I'd expect (hope) we would see a similar one come out this september.

 

[iwannam3]

Those are BEV and Plugin including Tesla X and S that don't qualify so we still don't know how many qualified vehicles have used the sales tax exemption.

 

[iwannam3]

They promised an answer by Aug 22 so they waited till the last moment to send me this:

The information you are seeking below is obtained from Department of Revenue. They keep this information.
You have asked for Records request for number of alternative fuel vehicles given sales tax exemption to date.
This fulfills this request and is now closed.
Please let me know if you have any questions.

Sincerely,
Gaylene Schave
Public Disclosure Coordinator
WA State Department of Licensing

 

[PLUS EV]

They promised an answer by Aug 22 so they waited till the last moment to send me this:

The information you are seeking below is obtained from Department of Revenue. They keep this information.
You have asked for Records request for number of alternative fuel vehicles given sales tax exemption to date.
This fulfills this request and is now closed.
Please let me know if you have any questions.

Sincerely,
Gaylene Schave
Public Disclosure Coordinator
WA State Department of Licensing

Absolutely infuriating. Our taxpayer dollars hard at work!