Buying a car in Florida, HELP!!!

[727pilot@usa.co]

In most states it is a sales and USE tax. If you pick up the car, you are using it and must pay the Florida tax. You will get credit in South Carolina for the tax you have paid.

If you have a shipper pick up the car you have not used it in the State of Florida and thus you will not have to pay the tax.

The tax collectors in both states have absolutely no sense of humor. If the dealer turns the car loose and does not collect the proper tax he will have to pay it to the state out of his pocket when he gets audited.

[SS COBRA]

Interesting comments about Florida sales and use tax. as a boat dealer, we have our out of state buyer that is going to register their boat in their home state sign the "out of state affivadit" and they have up to 30 days to remove the boat from Florida and register it in their state. Even if they pick it up or have it shipped.We have the customer give us a copy of their drivers lic. from their home state also. We have been following this proceedure for several years and have passed the state audit every year.
The question to me is, are cars different than boats, and I will find that out tomorrow.

[BDR561]

Section 21.08(10).F.S. allows a partial exemtion for a motor vehicle for out of state purchases. The dealer should have you sign Form DR-123 (Affidavit for Partial Exemption) and they will collect sales tax to a maximium of $300 as governed by South Carolina. Tax credit IS allowed between SC & FL.

So in a nut shell, you will pay the $300 tax here in FL and get credit for it when you register within 45 days in SC. Failure to register within 45 days will result in the loss of exemption.

Hope that helps...

[SS COBRA]

Learned something today from Fla. DMV. Florida has no reciprocal agreement with out of state boat sales pertaining to Fla. sales tax. Car sales follow a guide line on reciprocal agreements with other states. Since S.C. has an agreement with Fla.the Fla. dealer must collect S.C. 5% sales tax and give the buyer a receipt for taxes paid in Fla., so the buyer only has to pay registration fees in S.C.