Fulltimers often ask about where to establish their "residency." If you’re on the road all the time, it’s difficult to get driver licenses, insurance, and obtain vehicle licensing. Oregon is sometimes recommended because of its low vehicle registration rates and lack of sales tax. Some folks, however, have schemed to use the low Oregon rates for their own purposes, witness the recent crackdown on an Oregon resident who "helped" folks take advantage of those attractive Oregon amenities.
After an 18 month investigation, Oregon officials charged Tualatin, Oregon resident Denise Harden with "Tampering with a Public Record," and violating the "Oregon Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization" law. Harden helped non-Oregonians to register RVs in Oregon, thus avoiding their home-state sales tax and vehicle registration fees. By allowing her "customers" to use her Oregon residence address, Harden made it appear they were Oregon residents.
Harden copped a "no contest" plea, got slapped with $100,000 fine, and was given 24 months of probation. While no information was published regarding what happened to her customers, it’s a good possibility their own home state authorities will be putting them under the microscope of justice. It goes without saying then, that if you do establish Oregon as a fulltimer "residence," be sure to put the dot over the I and the crossbar on the T with respect to legalities. In the past, Washington state residents who registered their vehicles in Oregon and were caught got slapped hard for their trouble.
This isn’t the first occasion of phony RV registration schemes. Some years back, Oregon RV dealer Gauranty RV was hit hard when company employees "sold" Oregon addresses to out-of-staters for registration purposes.
16 comments:
It's a sad state of affairs when we selectivly enforce laws. Has Oregon also removed all illegal aliens? Have they enforced racateering laws against lawyers amd law makers? All stses need to look at enforcing laws equally and quit avoiding those that have precieve influance. What was done is wrong and should be punished but it is the tip of the ice berg.
I seems to me to be rediculous to fine some one for using your address. In my state you make use someones address or rent a post office box. Even though we have a sales tax it is nominal (3%) RV'ers who register here seldom complain (some states have no sales tax). We welcome RV'ers because they almost always obey our laws, don't litter, pay thier bills and enjoy our wonderful state. I believe Oregon has done this because of pressure from over taxed states such as California and Washington. Megu
Oh come ON!!! If you can pay multiple tens of thousand dollars for an RV and the gas it will take to move it, you can honestly pay the associated fees and licensing. Cheating and lying and scamming are irresponsible and Un-patriotic. Pointing fingers at "illegal" aliens has nothing to do with this issue. .
I'm with Mad Madj, I am so tired of listing to the whinners who are driving around this beautiful country in their plush Motorhomes and other equally expensive RV's who don't think they should have to pay their way anymore, just because they have retired and are on a "FIXED INCOME", that in many cases exceeds the average family income in this country. The cost of living still goes on after retirement, so pay your way! While I'm ranting I wish you would stop the free loading in the Walmart and other shopping centers. I know it's hard to understand that not everyone thinks your beloved RV is a thing of beauty, but parked in our neighborhoods they are considered by many of us locals as an I SORE! So please support the local government and private parks when you travel. I too have a beloved RV and travel as frequently as I can and always include park fees as part of my traveling expences.
How many of those Wal-Marts complain when the RVers each come in and buy $100 - 200 dollars worth of groceries and other items when they DO park overnight (as I and others always do), usually in an out-of-the-way area? I'm guessing few, if any.
If the regular campsites had no-hookup sites for a few dollars per night, they would have more guests, those who are merely enroute, and don't need all the amenities.
How many Wal-Marts complain when those overnight RVers buy 100 to 200 dollars of groceries and products when they stop over? I'm guessing few. When I stop, I go as out of the way as possible, and usually there aren't more than 1 or 2 others the next morning. I will not stop at a crowded one, and it's always after dark when I do overnight.
If campgrounds had easy-in-out, no-hookup sites for a few dollars, enroute RVers with no needs for amenities would stay there. But $20, 30, 40 for just overnight? Get real!
I'm sure Walmart likes your money, that's not the issue. I understand not wanting to pay high rates for overnight parking, so with just a little research, you can find several low cost locations that are more acceptable to the communities that you are passing through. I just checked out www.freecampgrounds.com. and found several places that I intend to visit. Also most fairgrounds will let you stay for less than $15.00 a night. We have found them to be good for several days at a time, and guess what you can still go to Walmart if you want. If you can't afford $15.00 a night, then you can't afford to be an RV'er.
California is another state that vigorously enforces registration laws. As in most states, if you live in that state, are registered to vote in that state, own property in that state (especially if you have a homeowner's exemption on the property), or satisfy any of several other "tests", you are required to pay registration and taxes in that state. Montana makes claims that, by forming a corporation, you can then register any vehicle in Montana to avoid registration fees and taxes. This is absolutely NOT correct and WILL get you into big trouble when you get caught. If you are going to register a vehicle in a state, you'd better be a legal resident of that state.
Ithink that it is quite funny how quickly the subject got changed from not doing whats right tobashing WM even though probably most of the same people who set up camp for numeouse days are the same ones who won't fess up and pay what is due
Why put up with all this nonsense with Oregon and other states? If they don't want our money, to heck with them. I became a resident of South Dakota by using a mail forwarding company in Rapid City. 3% tax, license fees are low, almost the very cheapest state in the country to get vehicle insurance. No brainer. Problem solved.
Folks, taxes are what we pay for a civilized society. Sales taxes support local government. This includes police and fire protection.
Selective enforcement? Please... Just think back to the last time your speedometer crept up past the posted limit and you didn't get stopped or you rolled through that stoplight while making your right turn.
We should be more saddened that this kind of charade is being played. Tax avoidance schemes cost the rest of us a tax increase. If only everybody paid their share, everybody's share could be reduced...
ALL your critical/negative comments about folks avoiding the onerous taxes of their home states are just plain CRAP!
It's perfectly legal to avoid taxes, and QUITE STUPID to pay taxes you don't legitimately owe!
As citizens of this great country, we each have a responsibility to pay ONLY THE TAXES WE LEGITIMATELY OWE! Just because you don't bother educating yourself on the subject, doesn't give you the right to criticize a person that "works the problem" to minimize their contribution to the likes of any given state's inflated budget... There is plenty of corruption to go around!
Did you know many companies choose to incorporate in Delaware -- for TAX-FAVORABLE PURPOSES??? Get a clue, neighbot; if I want to form a corporation as a holding company for my high-value assets, that's my business (and NONE OF YOURS!)... MYOB.
Also, the d*@#-head that thinks it is so easy to find a private RV park that will charge less than $15 for a safe haven in the dark... you are NUTS! These places ARE HARD TO FIND; then, when you do find them, parking in the dark is NOT EASY -- typically, there are many invisible obstacles only discovered THE HARD WAY!
I happen to be one of those retired people that RV every now and then. I don't use another state for what ever reason to try to save a few bucks. That's even though the taxes are high in my state of Wisconsin. Don't live in a big city, thank God. And if it were not for all the people that use my state for sight seeing,sports of sorts,rv'ing and so on can you imagine what my taxes would be then. Imagine what the RV rally will bring in monies to your state this year. Most rv'ers are retired and on a fixed income. Some have a harder time than others. How much did Oregon lose by rv'ers doing that? I believe there are far to many people and companies breaking laws or jumping though loop holes that are costing your state WAY more than the RV LOOP HOLE. Why don't they go after them as hard, or harder since their return would probably be higher. As far as illegals go we all know that the cost to us legals have to pay for their illegal going ons could have easy save the country billions of dollars over the years for those 12 to 20 milllion ilegals. If you would collect the money from them, or the people that hire them maybe everyone wouldn't have to tax the hell out of the people that live,work,and are taxed to hell in this great country! Using the wrong address verses all the other big crooks out there is petty. Maybe we rv'ers should all stop going to Oregon and see what a difference it would make. Wonder how much your tax bill would go up. Or do you cheat on that but figure that's a different topic and not what you want to talk about. Yes it's wrong. It's like what kids are told is a white lie. Let these states go after the big liars for once. And I'd like to see all the illegals be sent back and if they want, come the way the LAWS say they should. Nothing against any group of people, etc. But why should I have to learn another language just to talk to people, or to read in my own country!!!!!!! When you enter this great country of the USA one thing you begin to learn is OUR language. There's laws on the books against companies that hire illegals. Let your fine state go after them and fine the hell out of them until the Americans in this country that have lost jobs because their companies went south of the border . You know, replace the illegals that are holding those jobs. That too would help with the states tax base. I could go but I feel everyone gets my idea of what my feelings are.
Let me get this straight. Oregon collects a fee for every DL and plate they sell and whatever taxes they collect on non resident resident Rvers. Local businesses get paid for insurance.
And the people they are collecting the fees from are not using the roads, streets, schools, welfare, services or infrastructure because they don't actually spend any time there?
And the state gets federal tax money based on the number of residents they have?
Why isn't Oregon (and other states) advertising for more people to do that???
brattooo or whatever rings a familiar bell..........the blamers and whiners.....pay your fees and get over the so called illigels....I still dont understand how a people who only rescently came to this country can say that someone who was here already can be illigely here........oh yah I remember...immennant domain....hmmmm........the US crossed my boarder.......took my lands.......and I'm illegal?....remember this ....you were but a gleem in your fathers eye and are just lucky to have been born here and now.....very easily you could have been my brother.......soo...get over it...continue to pay your fees honestly as most of us do........Oh yeah.......I love oregon .......I own a big class A and always pay my way!.....love you and stay well......bajadan
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