[CaptChaos]

Before the HST was introduced if you bought or leased a car that cost more than $55k you paid 5% + 10% = 15% in sales tax. The extra 3% PST was the "luxury car tax."

After the HST was introduced, the luxury car tax disappeared and all cars, regardless of value, were charged 12% HST.

If you vote to return to the GST+PST, the luxury tax will return and most BMW's will again be taxed at 15%.

If you vote to keep the HST, all cars will be taxed at 12% until next year when it will drop to 11% and then it will drop again to 10% in 2014.

In 2014 this will result in a 5% tax difference. On a $60k F30 or F32 this would mean a difference of $3,000 in tax.

Happy voting!

[achien]

The question is, do you buy a BMW everyday?

[TOPEC]

isnt the voting long over already?

[CaptChaos]

Originally Posted by TOPEC

isnt the voting long over already?

You have until Friday August 5 to submit your voting card.

[shipill]

Originally Posted by achien

The question is, do you buy a BMW everyday?

[CRS]

Of all the good reasons to keep the HST, this has to be the worst.

If this was your principle argument, I would vote to bring back PST&GST.

[Bajan Loch]

I never understood BC's resistance to the HST; any value added tax is better then a consumption tax. What is the feeling with this vote? How will it go?

[CRS]

Originally Posted by Bajan Loch

I never understood BC's resistance to the HST; any value added tax is better then a consumption tax. What is the feeling with this vote? How will it go?

The resistance is mainly from the HST taxing things that were not previously taxed like services. Instead of going to a restaurant and getting taxed the one tax, now it is suddenly two.

That and the new real estate laws and how tax works for new homes vs. older homes.

[Andy M]

Just wondering, couldn't you guys in BC do this? Buy the car in Alberta and have a friend or family member who lives in Alberta go with you. You pay for the car and have the car registered to them and then have them sell you the registration to the car for $1 to make it a legal transaction. Drive it back to BC and you've just saved yourself the PST.

For a $55k car, that's $5,500 saved?

[Flying_Dutchman13]

^ I dont think it matters where you buy your car. I bought mine in Winnipeg, paid one tax when I purchased the car, then paid the remainder of the BC tax when I went to insure the car in BC.

[Andy M]

Originally Posted by Flying_Dutchman13

^ I dont think it matters where you buy your car. I bought mine in Winnipeg, paid one tax when I purchased the car, then paid the remainder of the BC tax when I went to insure the car in BC.

Interesting. I bought my car in Alberta and then moved to Toronto a few years later. Never had to pay any tax? And it would be unreasonable to be taxed on that?

[Flying_Dutchman13]

Originally Posted by Andy M

Interesting. I bought my car in Alberta and then moved to Toronto a few years later. Never had to pay any tax? And it would be unreasonable to be taxed on that?

I think because you had your residence in Alberta that made the difference. I lived in BC at the time of purchase, so the tax was based off of that. So even buying the title from an Alberta resident, the purchaser would still need a BC inspection and to pay the remainder of the tax when insuring the car.

[JunkStory]

Originally Posted by Flying_Dutchman13

I think because you had your residence in Alberta that made the difference. I lived in BC at the time of purchase, so the tax was based off of that. So even buying the title from an Alberta resident, the purchaser would still need a BC inspection and to pay the remainder of the tax when insuring the car.

Very good info. I've always wondered about this.

[Flying_Dutchman13]

Originally Posted by JunkStory

Very good info. I've always wondered about this.

Its a pretty easy process, I was in Winnipeg working, so I got the car and drove it home instead of flying. I got a permit from Winnipeg, drove the car home. Then went to Canadian tire to get the "out of province" inspection (about $130). Then when I had the inspection I could insure it, so I paid the remainder of tax then.

[Andy M]

Originally Posted by Flying_Dutchman13

I think because you had your residence in Alberta that made the difference. I lived in BC at the time of purchase, so the tax was based off of that. So even buying the title from an Alberta resident, the purchaser would still need a BC inspection and to pay the remainder of the tax when insuring the car.

Good to know! Thanks for the info.