Property Tax on RV

[jxnbbl]

There was a news segment about property tax on RVs in New Hampshire recently and how a town was gouging owners of RVs at a particular campground. I was surprised/confused by this so looked a bit deeper just to understand it.


I'm curious if this type of logic is in other states?


1. If a trailer is registered there are registration fees and basically value based taxes in New Hampshire, you get a plate and you travel or you could find a spot at a campground and park it.


2. If you park it and don't register and have a valid plate...in New Hampshire a campground owner has to list out all the 'permanent residents' by April 1 and give that list to the town assessor.



So there are two classes of RV - those registered and those Not registered but parked at the campground. The town can assess the value of the trailer/property on the site (example deck) and then tax you as if it was a permanent house. If it had a valid registration, then it is not considered permanent and would not be taxed.



Of course the town in question was taxing people for years, but their taxes tripled this year...hence making it to the news.

[NH_Bulldog]

I saw that on WMUR the other night too. Baffles me that someone would accept paying $500/year in taxes as opposed to simply keeping an active registration on their camper?

When I bought my first house at 20 years old in VT, it was a mobile home in a very nice park. Even though I didn't own the lot, I was taxed as if I did. All the residents protested and argued, yet it came down to it being classified as real property as opposed to personal property

[workinonit]

In SC the difference would be that if you list it as a permanent residence and pay property tax you can apply and get a homestead exemption which would make the property taxes much less than they would be if registered and paying vehicle property tax.

[JRTJH]

Every state has a means to create revenue through taxation. Some focus on property tax, some on income tax, some on sales tax, some on all three and even "devise more ways to extract money from residents....

That said, in Michigan, all "permanent structures" are required to meet zoning rules. In our area, the minimum structure size for recreational property is 720 square feet. So that essentially prohibits RV's from being "permanent structures"....

Then there's the "zoning rule" that requires "mobile structures" (RV's) to be "moved within 30 minutes of notification" (the local zoning office interpretation of the "reasonable time" notice)... You can't get a new registration/license "within two hours" on a weekend and if the Secretary of State office is "busy as usual", the wait time is likely to be longer than 30 minutes, so you either have to "build it bigger and call it permanent" or "keep registration and license current so you can legally move it if notified to do so"...

I'm sure there are "ways around the rules" such as "having adjacent property and move it between those two properties where there is no need to use a public road during transport" or other "outlandish ways to avoid maintaining a "legal RV on site"... And, yes, the requirement to be mobile also applies to an uninhabited RV parked behind a permanent structure for winter storage...

Bottom line, I suspect, is the tax office means to "extract income" from people and sometimes that means "not everyone is treated equally depending on their circumstances"...

Around here, there are hundreds of old travel trailers parked on private property that in NO WAY conform to the zoning laws and that don't have current registrations... In the words of our local township office, "There's no way we can enforce zoning rules when we don't even know where they all are located, but we'll try to find an owner if someone files a complaint....

Then you have "property tied up in back taxes and mortgage repossession" that fall under different rules, and once sold at auction, the new owner may not even have ever looked at the property or even be in the same state as the property, so then all the "stuff" starts all over again.....

But, tax offices have some "mean ways" to tax those who don't have a large enough base of members to make enough noise to be heard"..... Sounds like that might be what's happening in the OP's post...

[LHaven]

Originally Posted by NH_Bulldog

Baffles me that someone would accept paying $500/year in taxes as opposed to simply keeping an active registration on their camper?

Pretty sure my bathroom would never pass the emissions test.

[revrusty]

We recently received a property tax bill for a car that they claimed was part of a business that my wife closed several years ago. We acquired the car to help out an elderly aunt. Guess since we had 3 vehicles for 2 people they decided it was for the business. Have informed them the business has not existed for several years. No reply yet.

[dutchmensport]

For years and years Indiana had a Personal Property Tax that taxed RV's, travel trailers, fifth wheels, pop-up campers, even truck bed campers. It went so far as to tax canoes (I know, I had a canoe).

On the RV's it was a nightmare if you parked the camper in one spot and the vehicle was registered in another location. They went by the location it was parked at. It was insane.

Then, somewhere in the very late 1900's the personal property tax on RV's was dropped, but then other taxes were added when you purchased your annual license plates. Cost wise, the end result was about the same. BUT, when they switched, paying through the DMV instead of the county assessor was much, much, much more simple.

By the way, I never did let them know I had a canoe! But, since then, Indiana came up with a different way to get money. If it's a non motorized water craft of any kind, it has to have a non motorized sticker on it from the DNR (Department of Natural Resources). That means canoes, paddle boats and even blow up with air inflatable boats. But, the cost is only $5 a year. So, I do keep the "registration" up on my canoe now.

[JRTJH]

Originally Posted by revrusty

We recently received a property tax bill for a car that they claimed was part of a business that my wife closed several years ago. We acquired the car to help out an elderly aunt. Guess since we had 3 vehicles for 2 people they decided it was for the business. Have informed them the business has not existed for several years. No reply yet.

We had a consultation business (LLC) in Louisiana. We retired, closed that business COMPLETELY and notified the state of Louisiana of such in 2008. We have received an "overdue business tax notice" every year since then. We fully expect to get another one in May of this year. For the past 10 years we've simply sent the same 2014 return form stating the business no longer exists.

So far, NADA (no official response) from the state. Sometimes I wonder if we ever get stopped in Louisiana if there might be a warrant for our arrest for "tax evasion" LOL

[dutchmensport]

In defense of New Hampshire, I can (kind of) understand their logic. If the camper is registered, licensed, and properly titled, then yes ...it's being used as a true RV. If the registration has lapsed and the "camper" is sitting being used as a stationary house, then I certainly understand why it should be taxed as property or a property tax.

The thing I don't understand is why the campground is not responsible for paying the tax since the camper is actually sitting on the the campground property. They are "in it' as a business and what's parked on the land should be immaterial. Then the campground management passes on the expense of the taxes on the rent of the site. What happens if someone decides to pitch a tent or a tent camper and live in it. That is really not such a stupid idea. In Indiana at a private campground about 5 years ago, I met a family living in a pop-up permanently at that campground, in the winter and everything!

But, someone has to pay for big government expense and that's done through taxation. So, any way the state can tax something and get more money is more money going into someone else's pockets and more out of yours. The only solution is by your vote at the polls. Better yet, get personally involved and run for those positions yourself. If you don't take action yourself to make a difference, then you can't complain.

[gearhead]

Originally Posted by JRTJH

We had a consultation business (LLC) in Louisiana. We retired, closed that business COMPLETELY and notified the state of Louisiana of such in 2008. We have received an "overdue business tax notice" every year since then. We fully expect to get another one in May of this year. For the past 10 years we've simply sent the same 2014 return form stating the business no longer exists.

So far, NADA (no official response) from the state. Sometimes I wonder if we ever get stopped in Louisiana if there might be a warrant for our arrest for "tax evasion" LOL

You better stay out of Woodworth! LOL

We have oppressive property taxes. But they don’t tax RVs, boats, washing machines etc.

[JRTJH]

Originally Posted by gearhead

You better stay out of Woodworth! LOL

We have oppressive property taxes. But they don’t tax RVs, boats, washing machines etc.

Yep, Woodworth is one place where when the speed limit sign changes from 45MPH to 35MPH, you'd better have already slowed down to 25MPH... BTDT many times on the way to Indian Creek Campground...

As for the "Texas taxes", your statement should end with "yet"... But washing machines are taxed, just not directly. Sales tax, water bill tax, electricity usage tax all go up the more you use the washing machine... Technically, when you think about it, every time you flush the toilet, the water tax is "collected"....

[jasin1]

Originally Posted by JRTJH

Yep, Woodworth is one place where when the speed limit sign changes from 45MPH to 35MPH, you'd better have already slowed down to 25MPH... BTDT many times on the way to Indian Creek Campground...

As for the "Texas taxes", your statement should end with "yet"... But washing machines are taxed, just not directly. Sales tax, water bill tax, electricity usage tax all go up the more you use the washing machine... Technically, when you think about it, every time you flush the toilet, the water tax is "collected"....

“as i said in my campaign…i will not raise taxes!”………( guietly raises fees for everything from dog license’s to professional licensing, truck registrations, park entrance fees and document fees)

[Peto]

Originally Posted by NH_Bulldog

Baffles me that someone would accept paying $500/year in taxes as opposed to simply keeping an active registration on their camper?

I just paid over $600.00 for my annual registration so that would be a deal. Not an option for me but a deal.

[gearhead]

They gotta get that money somehow. Sales tax, prop tax whatever.
I suppose some places are more fair than others but with a couple of obvious examples we all pay the same amount, just differently.
Having oil helps.

[JRTJH]

Originally Posted by gearhead

They gotta get that money somehow. Sales tax, prop tax whatever.
I suppose some places are more fair than others but with a couple of obvious examples we all pay the same amount, just differently.
Having oil helps.

So true... Living in Louisiana, all we heard was "move to Texas, there's no income tax"... Same with "Move to Florida"... But our cousins who live in Houston paid about 3 times the property tax we paid in Louisiana for the same "value house"... About the only one that didn't pay as much property tax is the one that lives in Old Ocean. Of course, they pay the "offset taxes" by having to drive to Houston for everything from a Verizon store to groceries to ... So, even them, they pay the taxes, just to a different "Texas government agency" ....

[sourdough]

Originally Posted by JRTJH

So true... Living in Louisiana, all we heard was "move to Texas, there's no income tax"... Same with "Move to Florida"... But our cousins who live in Houston paid about 3 times the property tax we paid in Louisiana for the same "value house"... About the only one that didn't pay as much property tax is the one that lives in Old Ocean. Of course, they pay the "offset taxes" by having to drive to Houston for everything from a Verizon store to groceries to ... So, even them, they pay the taxes, just to a different "Texas government agency" ....

When we came back to TX from NM we thought it was going to be great; no state income tax. Boy were we in for a surprise. Moved to TX and the costs for insurance and taxes cost FAR more than insurance, taxes and state income tax in NM on similar properties. I think that advantage in pricing has disappeared as the state's political bent continues to move. So yep, it all comes out in the wash someway, somehow.

[jasin1]

MD property tax assessments went up significantly this year…Up to 35% across the state and over 22% for my County…fun times

[vampress_me]

Originally Posted by dutchmensport

By the way, I never did let them know I had a canoe! But, since then, Indiana came up with a different way to get money. If it's a non motorized water craft of any kind, it has to have a non motorized sticker on it from the DNR (Department of Natural Resources). That means canoes, paddle boats and even blow up with air inflatable boats. But, the cost is only $5 a year. So, I do keep the "registration" up on my canoe now.

MN has the same thing for canoes, kayaks, etc., plus you have to register your snowmobile to ride on trails. But, MN got a little more creative also - you have to have registration (and a displayed number supposedly, sort of like a license plate) on your horse if you ride it on trails in the state. MN land of 10,000 taxes and fees…

[dutchmensport]

Originally Posted by vampress_me

...on your horse if you ride it on trails in the state. …

Now that's hilarious .... (as long as you are the one that does not own a horse!)

[jxnbbl]

Originally Posted by dutchmensport

In defense of New Hampshire, I can (kind of) understand their logic. If the camper is registered, licensed, and properly titled, then yes ...it's being used as a true RV. If the registration has lapsed and the "camper" is sitting being used as a stationary house, then I certainly understand why it should be taxed as property or a property tax.

The thing I don't understand is why the campground is not responsible for paying the tax since the camper is actually sitting on the the campground property. They are "in it' as a business and what's parked on the land should be immaterial....

I believe in NH a campground is responsible for the assessed value of the land it possesses. The value of let's call them "permanent" RVs is passed through to the owners. These are both local/town taxes.

Your post made me question something else....the state "room and Meals tax". So it is just like a hotel/short term house rental, etc. The campground is responsible to collect from you for the nights that you stay just like a hotel...this goes to the state (not town). I imagine that if you stay more than 6 months, that just like a short term rental, then you are exempt from this tax which is 8.5%.

Although I live in NH I've only stayed at a site here 2 nights and never looked at the bill.