It depends on the state tax rules in every state & the city/county tax
rules within the state where you buy. If you buy in Indiana, don't
believe your insurance agent.

Some states let you decide where you pay. Some states, like Indiana
collect sales tax and some states give you credit for that tax when
you pay your home sales tax.

You have to do your own homework because of all the variables involved
and don't get tax advise from the RV salesman or your insurance agent.
The tax codes are on line so look them up, where you intend to buy as
well as where you live.

Tom J

My experience with RVs and autos is that without prearrangement, one
pays the tax in the state of purchase, then when one applies for
homestate title/registration, one must pay any homestate tax **in
excess** of the tax already paid.

Since your homestate tax rate is relatively low (esp compared to
someplace like CA) it would behoove you to make prearrangements.  A
call to your title/registration office, or a visit to their web site,
should tell you how.  I'm pretty sure that someone here has been thru
this, so you might get some specifics based on MA experience.  Also,
the RV dealer should have info on how to do it from their end.

Pete

Hi Jon,

   I am in Milford, MA and purchased mine from Michigan (All Seasons RV). I
paid the tax here on the RV only, paid no tax at all to Michigan, only thing
I had to pay Michigan was 15$ for a temporary license plate, they apparently
have some lawthere that it is mandatory even on a new purchase.
   It is considered an out of state sale, no state in the US that I know of
taxes for out of state sales, I believe it is illegal, but not 100% on that
(internets not always right <G>).
   I simply brought the certificate of origin and my purchase and sale to
my insurance co, they gave me the RMV-1 form. Brought all that to the RMV,
they took the total and subtracted all the addons, ie screen room, grill etc
and then taxed me on the balance which was the base cost of the RV.
   It was very easy and very straight forward, heck I didn't even use one
of the big registry branches, I used the one right here in Milford.
   The other thing that MA specifically does is give you the credit on tax
if you paid tax elsewhere. Example, I purchased a small cargo trailer from
Home Depot a couple weeks back, I paid Home Depot tax at the time of
purchase, I showed the receipt to the RMV and they simply waived the tax
since it was already paid.

Good luck with your purchase!
-Brian

IIRC, Indiana did/does have a law that requires all RV dealers to
collect Indiana sales tax regardless of what state the buyer resides in.
 AFIK, it's the only state with such a law.  I thought I'd read
somewhere that they were repealing it, however. I'd check with the
Indiana Department of revenue or treasury if you are considering
purchasing the rig in Indiana.

Most other states will not charge you their resident sales tax if you
are going to tag the vehicle out of state. A few states will charge the
tax but allow you to apply for a refund once you send them proof that
you have tagged and paid sales tax in your home state. Arizona will
charge you a tax if you pick up the vehicle there. Most Arizona dealers
will deliver the rig over the nearest state's border where they have a
notary standing by to do the paperwork. California, IIRC, has a similar
fee and their dealers take the rigs to Arizona.

Whatever state you are considering making your purchase in, I suggest
you contact that state's Treasury department and get the correct
information regarding their requirements. I would not rely upon a Mass.
insurance agent to be expert in the taxation laws of other states.

Janet

Buy the Camper in Oregon.

Another way is to buy the camper wherever you want but take delivery in
another State, that way the dealer will not have to charge you state sales
tax.  You will still have to pay taxes if you license it in Massachusetts

I bought one in AZ and paid the sales tax when I bought it.  Registered
it in MN and they credited me with that sales tax.   Had I not paid tax
on it in AZ, I would have paid the MN rate.

So compare the state where you want to register it to the state where
you want to buy it and choose the one with the lowest sales tax.

Make sure the dealer knows this before the final statement is worked up.
LZ

It's different in nearly every state. In some, you pay sales tax when
you buy, and your home state credits you. Others do not. We bought our
trailer in Tennessee, and were not charged sales tax. When we got to
Michigan on our temporary license, we licensed it in Michigan and paid
the 6% sales tax on the purchase price.

Check with the DMV of both states involved BEFORE you buy.

Lon

Every state has it's own department of taxation with it's own set of rules.
There is no federal standard that dictates how the transaction will be
handled.

I can tell you that in Nevada, it is common practice to go to CA to buy a
vehicle and avoid paying their sales tax.  For you to avoid the tax you have
to have the CA dealer deliver the vehicle in Nevada.  CA says that if you
drive it off the lot, onto a CA street or highway, you must pay a full
year's registration and sales tax on the transaction.  OK...easy to have a
dealer deliver it to Boomtown (Verdi, NV)where notaries are right inside the
main entrance at the cashier's cage.  They are set up to cover the
transaction documentation to prove it was delivered in Nevada.
However...what they are not set up to do is council you on your tax laws.
All they do is verify that it was delivered there on Nevada land.

Go to register the vehicle at the DMV and DMV wants to see a receipt that
shows the sales tax was paid.  If it was not, they collect the "USE" tax.

Now...if you are a CA resident and want to avoid the sales tax...I think
there is a way to show that you left the state immediately after purchasing
it and stayed out of the state for a periuod of 6 months or so.  I can't
remember the exact time period required.  But the key to this is you have to
show recipts for space rentals for the entire period.  It's not good enough
to have an affidavit filed by your sister who let you park in her back yard.
You have to show actual receipts that you paid for space rentals or parking
fees that verify the rig never had time to drive back to CA.  What a stupid
law!

Best to just budget for the sales tax and pay it like the rest of us peasant
citizens.

Nate

I took some advice and wrote IN DOR.
Below is a classic anwser and one
not really expected.  (the link is out)

Your Name: Jon
Email Address:
Subject: Sales Tax
Your Comments:
To whom it may concern,

I am seeking information about what type of tax
(sales tax) I would have to pay if as a
Massachusetts resident I purchased a RV (5th Wheel) in Indiana.

The dealer in Indiana tells me I will have Indiana sales tax at 6 % to
pay.  I believe my insurance agent tells me I would only have topay
Massachusetts sales tax at 5%.  Any experienced tax experts hereto help
me understand this issue?

Dear Mr. J:

See our Frequently Asked Questions for RV's & Cargo Trailers Dealers
under www.in.gov/dor/resources/html.dealers