CA Property Tax
 

My tax bill came today. My purchase price for the RV was $42k two years ago. The tax bill is $729. Does this sound about right? I reported to them that no mods have been done to the plane.

Also for the future, if I were to buy another plane, I could register under my cousin's name, who lives in TX so I don't have to pay taxes on it? Is that a good idea??

The tax is very close to 1% in most counties, and is assessed as of Jan 1 but not due until the end of August. So if you owned the plane on Jan 1, 2017, and your bill says 2017 and 2018, then this is a bit low. If it says $420 plus $309 late fee then it is just for 2017; in another month you?ll get the 2018 bill. AND, if you didn?t already pay it, be ready for the $3600 (depends what county you live in) plus late fees sales tax bill.

The state frequently gets lists of N numbers from hangared and tied down airplanes. If your ?cousin? is seen frequently leaving ?his? airplane at a CA airport he will get a property tax bill.

You're in Compton
 

Brian,

Since you keep your aircraft at KCPM, the city of Compton has an indemnity tax on aircraft which increases the amount of taxes paid. Dennis Lord can fill you in if you want the details.

As far as registering out of state, I know a few people who did that. All I can say is pay now or pay later but you'll pay and it will be a lot more if you end up paying later if the registration is questioned.

Update: THe tax bill is "voted indebtedness" not indemnity tax.

Xavier,
What's an indemnity tax?

Thanks,

*deleted*
correct information is posted further down this thread.

An indemnity tax is a payment to the airport in anticipation of future bills, whether from accidents or normal wear and tear. It?s a user fee.

CA will suck you dry on taxes, LA county is one of the worst. Should be 1.2% of the declared value, same as your home. It's always a good idea to register out of state but you have to hide your N# from the airport and who you rent your hangar from... They report your number to the county at least once a year. Aircraft musical chairs during hangar inspections, don't use your N# when fueling anywhere in the state and cover your N# when your hangar door is open. It can be a pain but saved thousands and thousands.....

Yes, except this goes into the city of Compton's coffer. The airport is owned by LA County. I don't think airplanes are the only things subject to this tax in the city. I could have the name of the tax wrong.
If I remember correctly, the tax is the result of some law that was voted on and passed in 1948.

Harder to do now, at Compton anyway. You have to have an N Number to get a hangar at the aviation rate. If not then you'll be charged non-aviation rates and are subject to getting kicked out if an aviation use person comes in. It's not necessarily the airport crew that catches you. The airport has become the favorite hangout for a county aviation department employee.

I'll look tomorrow at the date that the tax is for. I'm quite sure I paid last year already. So if it's supposed to be 1% then I'm getting over-charged?? 1% of $42k is $420, not $729. And the $3600 is sales tax, right? I already paid that when I bought the plane, so that's not an issue.

When I signed the lease, I put down my RV tail number. So in the future if I buy another plane, and I don't tell the airport to change the records, there isn't any reason they need to know about the new plane, right? I mean they can see me flying it, but I doubt they care who it belongs to. I know most of the guys who work there and I doubt they'll be interested in these technicalities. This is just all hypothetical anyway. My wife is against me having TWO airplanes, so it probably won't happen. But I'm trying to change her mind. Haha.