Sales Tax

[splitting_lanes]

Thanks everyone, I suppose we’ll send a cashiers check in a few weeks.

If all of you had no problems sending large sums of money out of the country, why would I?

Now, about that prince in Nigeria….

[Centex]

Originally Posted by splitting_lanes

Thanks everyone, I suppose we’ll send a cashiers check in a few weeks.

If all of you had no problems sending large sums of money out of the country, why would I?

Now, about that prince in Nigeria….

Just FYI my small-town local bank had no problem effecting my large final payment via international bank-to-bank wire transfer following the written instructions provided by the ETI finance folks (email them and ask).

I was much more comfortable with this option than paper-checks flying around the country and it was quicker and less expensive, too (even considering the 'wire transfer acceptance fee' charged by ETI's bank at that time in late summer of 2021).

Per ETI requirements at that time I did the wire transfer a few days before my trailer was scheduled for loading on the transport, keeping the $ in my interest-earning account to the last minute.

Just for your consideration, contact ETI for all of your final payment options and then verify your bank will do the international transfer per ETI's instructions.
_____________

On the sales-tax matter, I paid the 6.25% Texas sales tax on the Bill of Sale purchase price when I titled / registered my trailer in my home county. I did not pay the $50 fee to have ETI FedEx documents in advance of pickup, they were handed to me when I took possession of the trailer; I had no problem 'running commando' (without a license plate on the trailer) for the few days between trailer pickup and local registration when I was handed plates.

YMMV

[alanerickson]

Originally Posted by brroberts

I’ve never worried about temp tags. When I can, and am at home, I go get tags and pay taxes.

If you're going down the interstate, you're out of state, don't have trailer plates or a temporary, and get pulled over by someone having a bad day; there's no doubt they could put you through the ringer if they wanted to. Probably wouldn't happen but certainly could happen.

[cpaharley2008]

Originally Posted by alanerickson

If you're going down the interstate, you're out of state, don't have trailer plates or a temporary, and get pulled over by someone having a bad day; there's no doubt they could put you through the ringer if they wanted to. Probably wouldn't happen but certainly could happen.

I'm not aware of any Escape owner having been stopped by law enforcement on the way home for not having tags. If it happens, you have all the documentation needed with you to explain.

[splitting_lanes]

Originally Posted by Centex

Just FYI my small-town local bank had no problem effecting my large final payment via international bank-to-bank wire transfer following the written instructions provided by the ETI finance folks (email them and ask).

I was much more comfortable with this option than paper-checks flying around the country and it was quicker and less expensive, too (even considering the 'wire transfer acceptance fee' charged by ETI's bank at that time in late summer of 2021).

Per ETI requirements at that time I did the wire transfer a few days before my trailer was scheduled for loading on the transport, keeping the $ in my interest-earning account to the last minute.

Just for your consideration, contact ETI for all of your final payment options and then verify your bank will do the international transfer per ETI's instructions.
_____________

On the sales-tax matter, I paid the 6.25% Texas sales tax on the Bill of Sale purchase price when I titled / registered my trailer in my home county. I did not pay the $50 fee to have ETI FedEx documents in advance of pickup, they were handed to me when I took possession of the trailer; I had no problem 'running commando' (without a license plate on the trailer) for the few days between trailer pickup and local registration when I was handed plates.

YMMV

My bank is very good to me. I’ll check with ETI about a split wire transfer, my wife and I each have half the money in our separate accounts. Good thing about ordering in October 2020 and picking up in April 2022 is we had plenty of time to save money!

[outwiththedogs]

This sounds like a royal PIA for ETI, and I would seriously doubt that they are eager to add even more paperwork/documentation to their list of things to do.
Like others, we paid sales tax here in CO on getting our trailer tags and registration. It bites hard but just once for the sales tax. Tag stickers are a yearly affair; less bite but more often. I sent them the information and should have included condolences. Nobody loves paying the tax but its all part of the story.

Catherine

[JeffreyG]

Originally Posted by Centex

Per ETI requirements at that time I did the wire transfer a few days before my trailer was scheduled for loading on the transport, keeping the $ in my interest-earning account to the last minute.

What is this "interest" of which you speak?

[Donna D.]

I think this sounds like an ugly way to do business for all concerned. Some have a hard enough time getting a registration and title in some states. Can't imagine how awful it will be trying to convince DMV you've already paid the sales tax.

[Centex]

Originally Posted by JeffreyG

What is this "interest" of which you speak?

Every little bit helps (key word: "little")

[Rossue]

Originally Posted by splitting_lanes

Thanks everyone, I suppose we’ll send a cashiers check in a few weeks.

If all of you had no problems sending large sums of money out of the country, why would I?

Now, about that prince in Nigeria….

A personal check in this instance is the same as a cashier's check. ETI will still require a certain amount of time to be sure the check- whether it be a cahsier's or personal check- to clear. So you can save the hassle and just send your check.

[Rossue]

Originally Posted by Donna D.

I think this sounds like an ugly way to do business for all concerned. Some have a hard enough time getting a registration and title in some states. Can't imagine how awful it will be trying to convince DMV you've already paid the sales tax.

Yeah, then in that instance what to do? While at DMV in this dilemma you would have to pay the tax again if you want plates. Then what, try to get a $4,000 refund from ETI- in Canada?

[kavm]

Originally Posted by splitting_lanes

Thanks everyone, I suppose we’ll send a cashiers check in a few weeks.

If all of you had no problems sending large sums of money out of the country, why would I?

Now, about that prince in Nigeria….

You should look at the various options they offer and see which suits you the most. Between the cost of the cashiers check and FexEx, a wire transfer might be faster and cheaper (though ETI it’s cheap enough to ask you pay them a fee to receive the wire transfer). That was the case for us.

[kavm]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

I'm not aware of any Escape owner having been stopped by law enforcement on the way home for not having tags. If it happens, you have all the documentation needed with you to explain.

Yes, we did hear such comments last year when we were doing this. Also how some of the others in our situation weren’t worried about it. I must admit they were not of much use.

We were new owners pulling a camper, never having pulled anything and not terribly confident of our driving with truck and camper, not being able to dismiss the possibility of being in an accident or otherwise picked on by some WA trooper annoyed by our slow speed and their law about not holding up traffic, etc. I don’t like to bring up race into it but that is also a factor in my perception of the risk. In such a situation, we did not feel comfortable with not having valid tags either.

I am not suggesting that this is how others should feel but the thought that some had never heard of anyone being stopped for lack of tags and others did not worry about it did not comfort us.

[brroberts]

ETI indicated to me they would treat a cashiers check differently than a personal check. Also cashiers checks are free to me, wires are not.

[gbaglo]

Originally Posted by brroberts

ETI indicated to me they would treat a cashiers check differently than a personal check. Also cashiers checks are free to me, wires are not.

My understanding is that a cashier's check only guarantees that there was money in the account when the check was drawn up. It doesn't mean it's still there when you try to cash it.

[Bill_75]

Originally Posted by bborzell

Escape is asking for documentation of purchaser payment of sales tax. Their caveat for that request is that it seems silly to have to ask for that information as US purchasers have to pay sales tax in order to register their trailer in their home state.

What would be even sillier is for anyone who bought an Escape trailer and who registered it in a non resident state with low or no sales tax and a small ministerial license fee to actually send that documentation to ETI.

From my perspective, ETI is being asked to play a part in a round up of US folks who might have avoided home state taxes/fees. Perhaps this “odd” request from ETI is being made under threat of curtailing sales to US states if they do not comply.

To quote a tax consultant, “If you live in a state with a sales tax, it’s against the law to avoid paying sales or use tax on taxable goods that will be consumed, used, or stored in your home state. And yes, that generally includes RVs that will spend much of their time on the road and parked in campgrounds in other states.”

Minnesota has a law that calls for prison time for such illegal tax avoidance.

Except in a state, i.e. ours(NC) that doesn't charge a sales tax on a title transfer, but instead charges a "highway use tax". What a mess working out that with Canada/US/NC/ETI with ETI collecting a sales tax........glad we bought when we did.

[Ooshkaboo]

Originally Posted by kavm

Yes, we did hear such comments last year when we were doing this. Also how some of the others in our situation weren’t worried about it. I must admit they were not of much use.

We were new owners pulling a camper, never having pulled anything and not terribly confident of our driving with truck and camper, not being able to dismiss the possibility of being in an accident or otherwise picked on by some WA trooper annoyed by our slow speed and their law about not holding up traffic, etc. I don’t like to bring up race into it but that is also a factor in my perception of the risk. In such a situation, we did not feel comfortable with not having valid tags either.

I am not suggesting that this is how others should feel but the thought that some had never heard of anyone being stopped for lack of tags and others did not worry about it did not comfort us.

What you did, jumping into this without any experience was some John Wayne true grit epic courage, not to mention having a ride or die next to you.
I don’t know your race-don’t care, but you in a 100k rig aren’t really looking to gangsta…
We ALL can catch hell from the po po from time to time, so don’t internalize what the media puts out there.
I’m white with Asian family from coast to coast, stay strong, don’t trip…

[rubicon327]

Originally Posted by gbaglo

My understanding is that a cashier's check only guarantees that there was money in the account when the check was drawn up. It doesn't mean it's still there when you try to cash it.

I think you are confused with a certified check. I just used cashiers checks a couple weeks ago for a large sum for a boat purchase and received one for the sale of another boat. The funds are moved from your account and are then guaranteed by the bank. It is one of the more secure ways to transfer large sums of money.

[gbaglo]

Yup. Confused.

[Rossue]

Originally Posted by rubicon327

I think you are confused with a certified check. I just used cashiers checks a couple weeks ago for a large sum for a boat purchase and received one for the sale of another boat. The funds are moved from your account and are then guaranteed by the bank. It is one of the more secure ways to transfer large sums of money.

The thing is there are a lot of counterfeit cashier's checks so any prudent business doesn't treat them any different from a personal check.

When I bought a new van last March I used a personal check at the dealership. The difference there is that all dealers know to have you sign a financial agreement, which they do check your credit, etc., to have as a backup in case your check bounces.