CA Dept. of Tax and Fee

GMascelli

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GaryM
I received a strange request....

The California department of tax and fee administration selected my "former" aircraft for the verification process authorized by section 7054 of the sales and use tax law. They are requesting the date of sale, price, and buyer info.

Do I have to submit this? It's been a year since the sale, and what is my obligation to their process....it's always something.
 
Had a similar thing a few years back with an RV and I just tossed it in the trash and that was it... and I am a California resident..
 
I received a strange request....

The California department of tax and fee administration selected my "former" aircraft for the verification process authorized by section 7054 of the sales and use tax law. They are requesting the date of sale, price, and buyer info.

Do I have to submit this? It's been a year since the sale, and what is my obligation to their process....it's always something.

Looks like they have the authority to do it. What happens if you refuse I dunno, but I’m sure that’s covered somewhere in another Title, Chapter, Article and Section of California Law. Why do you think it’s a strange request?
 
Had a similar thing a few years back with an RV and I just tossed it in the trash and that was it... and I am a California resident..

Do you remember if it was the Department of Tax and Fee Administration? Never heard of them before. I went through this a few years ago also but it was from the Board of Equalization.
 
I received a strange request....

The California department of tax and fee administration selected my "former" aircraft for the verification process authorized by section 7054 of the sales and use tax law. They are requesting the date of sale, price, and buyer info.

Do I have to submit this? It's been a year since the sale, and what is my obligation to their process....it's always something.

They may just be collecting information for research. This Department is the new kid on the block, created just a couple years ago.
 
Do you remember if it was the Department of Tax and Fee Administration? Never heard of them before. I went through this a few years ago also but it was from the Board of Equalization.

They changed the name last year.
 
Do you remember if it was the Department of Tax and Fee Administration? Never heard of them before. I went through this a few years ago also but it was from the Board of Equalization.

Yes, The California Department of Tax and Fee administration.
 
Yes, The California Department of Tax and Fee administration.

I had asked that question to @Ventucky Red. He had got something like that a few years ago and I was trying to find out if this Department was even around back then. They weren’t. Just noticed you’re in Maryland. Your buyer must be in California. They are probably just checking to see if that buyer is lying to them about his purchase price.
 
Try letting them know you can respond but have a $100 processing fee. It will take up to 90 days. Or they can pay an extra $250 for expedited service.

Or, I'll need a Subpoena for that. Or as this guy calls them, Supeenies
 
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When I was in the Army and lived in Texas, I still had my California address on my Pilot Certificate. When I bought an airplane, I got a letter from the Kalifornistan department of Confiscation requiring me to verify my address and to state where my aircraft was parked. They needed to know which county the aircraft was parked in, so they could send me a bill for $850+ for some made up tax.

There was no interwebs back then, so I had to write and call to tell them I lived in Texas and it was all settled after another year of correspondence...
 
When I was in the Army and lived in Texas, I still had my California address on my Pilot Certificate. When I bought an airplane, I got a letter from the Kalifornistan department of Confiscation requiring me to verify my address and to state where my aircraft was parked. They needed to know which county the aircraft was parked in, so they could send me a bill for $850+ for some made up tax.

There was no interwebs back then, so I had to write and call to tell them I lived in Texas and it was all settled after another year of correspondence...

About a year or so of being on the phone and a lot of printing and mailing expenses is what it took me. I had to go through it with both California and Washington. California got all exited that my airplane was in their State and hadn't been paying Taxes. Had to do it with both the Property Tax folk and the Sales Tax folk. Property was first and I got that one done with a letter of explanation. Had do it again the next year also. The Board of Equalization got a hold of me about a year later and wanted Use Tax on the purchase. They went anal and I had to provide proof of the exact dates the plane entered California and the exact date it left. I hadn't anticipated this so I didn't have that stuff ready to go. I'd a been screwed if the FBO at KMFR wasn't able to send me a copy the receipts for my overnight there and gas purchase. I was right at the 180 day cut off point. If I hadn't pressed on past KRBL that afternoon, which I was considering because of the winds in the pass by Mt Shasta and spent the night there, It would have been 180 days in California and I would have owed. Washington got excited because I was a resident and owned an airplane and I hadn't paid Use tax on the purchase. That one just took a sit down with them, showing my Hangar receipts in Oregon and my Oregon Aircraft Registration.
 
Had a client go through something similar. He sent a simple reply that he longer had the information requested and to contact the FAA aircraft registration office in Oak City for any details.
Which, if it was done like most owners do it, will show a sales price of "$1 & ovc".
 
Do you remember if it was the Department of Tax and Fee Administration? Never heard of them before. I went through this a few years ago also but it was from the Board of Equalization.

I think it was from the Board of Equalization.. I remember my wife gave me a hard time because I didn't do the Release of Liability on the DMV website which asks for a selling price.. I just took the cash, signed the title, canceled the storage space, watched it drive off, and washed the damn thing out of my hair.

Edit.. just checked with the wife, the request came from the DMV... all the more reason for it to filed under useless CA government krap
 
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https://www.ca.gov/agencysearch/

CA has so many State agencies, it boggles the mind. Truth be known, other States have plenty of Gov’t employees too. Of course we need most, look through the list, plenty could be cut. It’s not like CA is awash in $$$.
 
For a more serious answer (although I did like some of the responses above) where did the transaction take place? If outside of California, and you are not a California resident, then you probably can just ignore it. If there is any sales tax due on the transaction, it’s the buyer’s responsibility to pay the tax unless you are considered a “dealer” and most casual sellers are not considered “dealers” in most states. Some, if not most states have reporting requirements for sales of titled vehicles by the sellers. However, airplanes don’t have titles and in any event, registration is by federal law. Wouldn’t surprise me though if some state somewhere has a requirement to report the sale of federally registered or documented vehicles such as airplanes and boats. I imagine Florida must be one given all of the federally documented boats in that state.
 
https://www.ca.gov/agencysearch/

CA has so many State agencies, it boggles the mind. Truth be known, other States have plenty of Gov’t employees too. Of course we need most, look through the list, plenty could be cut. It’s not like CA is awash in $$$.

Gotta love the Acupuncture Board. The Bureau of Sticking to You
 
Actually, the transaction took place in Delaware. The new owner flew the plane home to California from Maryland.
 
For a more serious answer (although I did like some of the responses above) where did the transaction take place? If outside of California, and you are not a California resident, then you probably can just ignore it. If there is any sales tax due on the transaction, it’s the buyer’s responsibility to pay the tax unless you are considered a “dealer” and most casual sellers are not considered “dealers” in most states. Some, if not most states have reporting requirements for sales of titled vehicles by the sellers. However, airplanes don’t have titles and in any event, registration is by federal law. Wouldn’t surprise me though if some state somewhere has a requirement to report the sale of federally registered or documented vehicles such as airplanes and boats. I imagine Florida must be one given all of the federally documented boats in that state.

California is probably looking for the proper assessment for the property tax.
 
You want to hear a good komnifornia story.

I have a friend that I went to school with. He had kept his license (medical field) active in the state of kalifornia since graduation and passing the boards.

He had NOT lived in komnifornia for the last 20 years.
One day he tries to use his credit card and it is declined. Hmmm that’s funny, he then goes to his bank and tries to draw out some cash. They tell him his accounts are frozen, not only that but he finds out his IRA and stock accounts are frozen too.

He Learns this has been done by the state of komnifornia stating he hasn’t payed taxes for years. He replies that he hasn’t lived in komnifornia for 20 years.
They want him to prove he has lived elsewhere and are requesting 10 YEARS of back taxes be Faxed to the state. It took over two weeks to straighten this matter out for him.
 
Many years ago, Nevada club sold a Scout to a Calif buyer. Transaction occurred in Nevada. Some time later a similar letter was received and ignored. Never heard anything else.

Private sales of used vehicles are not subject to sales tax in NV.
 
I received a strange request....

The California department of tax and fee administration selected my "former" aircraft for the verification process authorized by section 7054 of the sales and use tax law. They are requesting the date of sale, price, and buyer info.

Do I have to submit this? It's been a year since the sale, and what is my obligation to their process....it's always something.
If it came first class mail, toss it out. You didn't get it if you didn't sign for it. Post office is the sender's agent. . .I have seen mortgage documents and contracts that call out contact by first class mail is OK. I'd have that modified before agreeing, though. . .
 
I would throw it in the trash. You have no obligation to tell California anything.

Anyone can ask for anything. That doesn’t mean you have to answer.
 
You want to hear a good komnifornia story.

I have a friend that I went to school with. He had kept his license (medical field) active in the state of kalifornia since graduation and passing the boards.

He had NOT lived in komnifornia for the last 20 years.
One day he tries to use his credit card and it is declined. Hmmm that’s funny, he then goes to his bank and tries to draw out some cash. They tell him his accounts are frozen, not only that but he finds out his IRA and stock accounts are frozen too.

He Learns this has been done by the state of komnifornia stating he hasn’t payed taxes for years. He replies that he hasn’t lived in komnifornia for 20 years.
They want him to prove he has lived elsewhere and are requesting 10 YEARS of back taxes be Faxed to the state. It took over two weeks to straighten this matter out for him.
Were any of the frozen accounts in institutions that were located in California?
 
Not specifically, BofA, Schwab, and a local bank according to him.
Funny they can find just about everything concerning him except for the fact he doesn’t live or work there....
 
Not specifically, BofA, Schwab, and a local bank according to him.
Funny they can find just about everything concerning him except for the fact he doesn’t live or work there....
B of A and Schwab at least have offices in California. I'm surprised that a state would have the authority to unilaterally freeze an account at an institution with no in-state presence.
 
The one thing I do know, he was pi$$ed beyond belief. Guilty until proven innocent
 
Worse in Illinois. Here you have to pay the assessment b4 you can contest it in the courts
 
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