I moved to Florida March 2015. I became a Florida legal resident, transferred boat registration, car tags, etc all kept in Florida. Dorchester county sends me a tax bill at my new address which says if I owned the boat January 1, 2015, I owe them a whole year’s taxes? Is this right?
Yes, whoever owned the boat and where pay taxes on that boat. For example, I sold a boat about 7 months ago, I got the tax bill and have to pay taxes on it, not the new owner.
“Kleenex, The Official Sponsor of Fishb8”
pitviper; that is not necessarily the whole thing. when a person sells a boat or jet ski etc the purchaser usually inherits any encumberances that go with it. for example; I sold a jet ski several years ago and when they went to register it they were told that the last years taxes were due; which they were. (sold in early Jan that year) he called me and wanted me to pay the back taxes and i refused. we went to small claims court at his request and the judge side with me with the explanation above. not only did he have to pay the taxes; he had to pay the court cost. he told the guy that if he found $500 in the compartment of the jet ski that it would be his also not mine even though i put it there. you might want to do some further checking. might work. might not but worth a try. hope this helps.
My reasoning is that if I move out of state with my property and register the property in the new state, SC and Dorchester county no longer have jurisdiction on me, my income or property. They haven’t done any services FOR me, and I haven’t used any of their roads, waterways, school system, etc. It is simply never ending unlimited taxation, I think that was how a war started a long time ago.
Taxes prorated for the period I was a legal resident, maybe, but not for the entire year.
quote:
Originally posted by COOLBREEZEpitviper; that is not necessarily the whole thing. when a person sells a boat or jet ski etc the purchaser usually inherits any encumberances that go with it. for example; I sold a jet ski several years ago and when they went to register it they were told that the last years taxes were due; which they were. (sold in early Jan that year) he called me and wanted me to pay the back taxes and i refused. we went to small claims court at his request and the judge side with me with the explanation above. not only did he have to pay the taxes; he had to pay the court cost. he told the guy that if he found $500 in the compartment of the jet ski that it would be his also not mine even though i put it there. you might want to do some further checking. might work. might not but worth a try. hope this helps.
I bet you vote democrat… Thank god dnr has updated their site and services so you can check and make sure back taxes aren’t due and folks can avoid doing business with people like you. Buyer beware. If you own the boat January 1, you owe for the whole year.
boat property taxes are paid in arrears, that’s why they follow the vessel, unlike a car, where you pay in advance.
salty,
the scenario that coolbreeze just described is why as a dealer, when we sell a boat for someone, we do not release their funds until the title transfer is complete.
boat fly, you don’t live there now, but you did prior to jan 1st, and you were part of the community using its serviced during that time.
www.teamcharlestonmarine.com
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IF I RESPOND IN ALL CAPS, ITS NOT ON PURPOSE, AND I AM NOT YELLING
quote:
Originally posted by chris Vboat property taxes are paid in arrears, that’s why they follow the vessel, unlike a car, where you pay in advance.
salty,
the scenario that coolbreeze just described is why as a dealer, when we sell a boat for someone, we do not release their funds until the title transfer is complete.
boat fly, you don’t live there now, but you did prior to jan 1st, and you were part of the community using its serviced during that time.www.teamcharlestonmarine.com
www.joinrfa.org
IF I RESPOND IN ALL CAPS, ITS NOT ON PURPOSE, AND I AM NOT YELLING
Its a shame you have to do it like that, but thank you for looking out for folks who may not know and end up having to pay someone else’s bill. I know from experience and it sucks.
salty; for your information the buyer knew that the taxes were not paid and were due. he just changed his mind when the time came. also; i am a vietnam war vet who believes in God and pay my due taxes and hell no! I would never vote democrat. not that any of this is any of your concern. i did nothing wrong and the judge agreed. know the laws. they can help you in a lot of situations and there was nothing wrong with the way it was handled. Merry Christmas to you you old grump.
I have asked the county auditor, they replied no mercy for my issue. Getting an attorney’s opinion now.
This is one of the many reasons I moved from SC, property taxes on cars and boats forever, sales taxes at 8-10% or greater on everything, roads and boat ramps inadequate, and have been for the 30 years I lived there, and oh yeah, taking a big chunk of my paycheck every month for income tax. None of these taxing governments have returned to me in services or facilities what I paid in taxes, but I paid for a lot of able-bodied people and tax exempt corporations that didn’t pay their share. I am gone.
quote:
Originally posted by COOLBREEZEpitviper; that is not necessarily the whole thing. when a person sells a boat or jet ski etc the purchaser usually inherits any encumberances that go with it. for example; I sold a jet ski several years ago and when they went to register it they were told that the last years taxes were due; which they were. (sold in early Jan that year) he called me and wanted me to pay the back taxes and i refused. we went to small claims court at his request and the judge side with me with the explanation above. not only did he have to pay the taxes; he had to pay the court cost. he told the guy that if he found $500 in the compartment of the jet ski that it would be his also not mine even though i put it there. you might want to do some further checking. might work. might not but worth a try. hope this helps.
You are correct in a sense, if I decide to be a douche and not pay the taxes, the new owner will have to pay them, like in your case… SMDH
“Kleenex, The Official Sponsor of Fishb8”
BF, I moved out of state a few years back and found myself in your situation. Just pay the bill and say F.U to the SC tax man and move on. They have you by the balls and they know it.
This is correct. You owe the taxes. It’s pretty much the same for any state.
Ron
2000 Camano Troll
North Charleston, SC
Chris V hit the nail on the head. “Arrears” is the operative word.
In the future, where every stranger poses a potential threat, knowing the predator mindset is the only safe haven.
It’s sad that we have to do a background check on the previous owner’s taxes to avoid being scammed these days. I would feel guilty if I scammed someone into having to pay my taxes.
At least charleston county has a system online to make the records easy to get. When I purchased my motor I checked the online system, and it was not updated. I called the auditor’s office and the lady was very nice and had an answer for me in seconds.
You can’t do business with a handshake anymore.
quote:
Originally posted by MuddyWaterFisherIt’s sad that we have to do a background check on the previous owner’s taxes to avoid being scammed these days. I would feel guilty if I scammed someone into having to pay my taxes.
At least charleston county has a system online to make the records easy to get. When I purchased my motor I checked the online system, and it was not updated. I called the auditor’s office and the lady was very nice and had an answer for me in seconds.
You can’t do business with a handshake anymore</font id=“red”>.
Sad but true.
In the future, where every stranger poses a potential threat, knowing the predator mindset is the only safe haven.
quote:
You can't do business with a handshake anymore.
I still do, it’s the only way I do business. Sometimes with serious money involved. My handshake and word and a look in your eyes is as binding as my signature to me. Old school I guess, but so far it’s worked out OK. At least as well as the stuff I’ve had to sign for anyway.
Can’t escape taxes, somebody is going to pay them for sure.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Swamp Worshiper
That’s the exception and not the rule but I applaud you for that, CL, but pretty much any law school freshman could beat that in a court of law. Sadly, we live in an over-litigated world.
Times, they are a changing…
In the future, where every stranger poses a potential threat, knowing the predator mindset is the only safe haven.
I own my own business and that’s how I do it. Never had to go to court, never had a dissatisfied client, never got burned on a deal, never burned anybody. If I promise I’ll do something, you can take it to the bank. Anybody who’s ever dealt with me will tell you the same thing.
That being said, I know nothing about SC boat taxes [:I] Good luck with that.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Swamp Worshiper
The kryptonite to “never” is “if.”
Hope your track record holds up for you, CL. Again, I applaud anyone that can still conduct business that way, especially in today’s society.
In the future, where every stranger poses a potential threat, knowing the predator mindset is the only safe haven.
Yep that’s how it works. Sold mine in March and just sent the man the $5200 dollar check. Your only recourse if to include the taxes in the sale price if you can swing it. Paid for the whole year and only used it for 3 months. Seems fair LOL.