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Washington State - Annual Registration - RTA Tax

Discussion in 'North West U.S.' started by LyonKing, Dec 18, 2019.

  1. Dec 18, 2019 at 11:19 AM
    #1
    LyonKing

    LyonKing [OP] No way Bells is bigger than Waimea bro...

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    For those of you from Washington state who live in King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties who live within the Sound Transit District are required to pay the Regional Transit Authority (RTA) tax upon purchase or renewal of a new or used vehicle.

    When I renewed my tabs this year it was over $700 (including UW plates $30, Discovery Pass $30, etc) and the RTA tax was $523 alone for my 2019 TRD Pro and I live in King County. When I wanted to calculate how Sound Transit / DOL came up with that number I did some digging and found that if your truck is over 6,000 lbs (scale weight) you’re exempt from the RTA tax. Depending on the trim of your truck at stock you’re sitting between 5.5k lbs and 5.7k lbs. This grid outlines which type of vehicles are subject to RTA Tax which is outlined here https://www.dol.wa.gov/vehicleregistration/rta.html and a picture which I’m referring to is pasted below:

    RTA_Grid.jpg

    First, I tried calling the phone number on the DOL/RTA site to dispute the valuation but was on hold for the better part of 30min and hung up and sent an email to CustomerCare@dol.wa.gov

    Here’s the response I got back from them:

    DOL_CS_Email.jpg


    So off I go to find a local certified scale. A list in your area can be found here: https://www.dol.wa.gov/vehicleregistration/scales.html

    I went to the Cadman in Issaquah (make sure you check their hours on their website) and when I went to do visitor check in the receptionist sent me out to the drive up scale and told me to drive on to the scale and that there was a little phone box on the side of the building and to dial that number when I got onto the scale.

    I drive up and can already see my weight on the scale read out and dial the number.

    Scale.jpg

    The lady on the phone asked me what I needed and I told her I needed a weight slip for my truck and she said ok, asked for my VIN or license plate number...then took my credit card over the phone and charged me $15. Then my weight slip was printed out in a box right next to the scale as I drove off. This was totally self-service and no one was monitoring the scales.

    Scale_redacted.jpg

    The TRD Pro (per the Google machine / Toyota's website) is 5.7k lbs and with my wheels, tires and DiamondBack HD cover I was well over 6,000 lbs. I also had about a ¼ tank of fuel at the time I went to the scale. As you can see, I was at 6,760 lbs.

    I then went to my local DOL office and presented my weight slip and requested that my registration be updated with the correct weight of my truck. As you can see the before and after of my registration scale weight. I was also told by the DOL folks that this is a one-time change and I won’t have to do this each year.


    Before:

    5530_redacted.jpg

    After:

    6760_redacted.jpg

    After getting this updated, I then applied for a RTA tax refund using the Vehicle/Vessel Refund Request form found here: https://www.dol.wa.gov/forms/420454.pdf per the email from the DOL customer service rep.

    I mailed out the refund form on 12/12/19 and got the refund via a check from the DOL on 3/12/20 per this post.

    Hope this helps
     
    Last edited: Mar 13, 2020
  2. Dec 18, 2019 at 11:27 AM
    #2
    bmann7

    bmann7 Silver Sky Platinum Pro

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    Hoping to follow suit sometime next week on this!
     
  3. Dec 18, 2019 at 11:33 AM
    #3
    Tchase

    Tchase MostlyLurk

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    holy crap, I hope my limited hit's over 6k, so you can have a full tank of gas?
     
  4. Dec 18, 2019 at 11:36 AM
    #4
    bmann7

    bmann7 Silver Sky Platinum Pro

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    Our "38 gallon" tank (allegedly) full is over 200lbs, you're likely something near that? You only need an extra 500lbs or so right?
     
  5. Dec 18, 2019 at 11:49 AM
    #5
    scpete24

    scpete24 Duuuuuuude

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    This doesn't apply to me, but I think it's awesome you took the time to research and post your replies so others would know and could benefit. Thank you for adding some valuable input!
     
    raspy87, RainMan_PNW, Drk_Jdi and 3 others like this.
  6. Dec 18, 2019 at 12:57 PM
    #6
    TacomaLC

    TacomaLC New Member

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    Thanks for the info and the excellent write up!!!


    Go Dawgs!
    IMG_7521.jpg



    Go Cuogs--This message brought to you by the Washington State University English Department :rofl:
    cuogs.jpg
     
    Last edited: Dec 18, 2019
  7. Dec 18, 2019 at 1:15 PM
    #7
    Green Thunder

    Green Thunder Smooth in the Cruise

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    Mods should make this a stickie...

    Interesting that your truck weight includes your butt and that wasn’t factored in anywhere. So if someone shows up with a full tank and is still a few lbs light, you can leave and go put your favorite rock collection in the back.
     
    TheBeast, LyonKing[OP] and Tchase like this.
  8. Dec 18, 2019 at 1:25 PM
    #8
    Tchase

    Tchase MostlyLurk

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    My ballast bags might come in handy...
     
    Green Thunder[QUOTED] likes this.
  9. Dec 18, 2019 at 3:45 PM
    #9
    Tchase

    Tchase MostlyLurk

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    3/4 tank of gas

    AF28181F-8C81-4461-9E29-4E2A56D07069.jpg
     
  10. Dec 18, 2019 at 4:10 PM
    #10
    Green Thunder

    Green Thunder Smooth in the Cruise

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    The state is talking about going to a pay-by-the-mile scheme instead of a gas tax. Won’t it be funny if there is a higher rate for vehicles over 6,000lbs!
     
  11. Dec 18, 2019 at 4:37 PM
    #11
    Viking

    Viking New Member

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    I'm so thankful that I moved out of Washington in the late 60's, I saw some of this stuff coming, I'm sorry for those who have to deal with this rotten crap. Washington has a lot of great things going for it, hunting, salt and fresh water fishing, at least they were great when I was living there, could be that has all changed, but I remember catching Blackmouth salmon (young King salmon), Sea run cutthroat trout, rock cod and occasionally large cutthroats from Cascade mountain lakes and streams, could be that that is all but a memory of better times and I'm pretty sure that my DW and I won't be visiting Seattle anytime soon, if ever.
     
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  12. Dec 18, 2019 at 5:26 PM
    #12
    Tchase

    Tchase MostlyLurk

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    Just to follow up I went to the DOL on the way home, the supervisor tried to give me a hard time, said that it goes off OEM dry weight delivered no fluids ect. I said it clearly says scale weight on your website and nothing else. She says you are just trying to get out of the RTA and I said yes I am and my truck weighs more than the OEM says as I have added several items to it. She gave me a dirty look and told the guy to do it :)
     
    RaginTxn, Dalandshark, viha22 and 3 others like this.
  13. Dec 18, 2019 at 5:29 PM
    #13
    Tchase

    Tchase MostlyLurk

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    Honestly I could careless about all the nice things about the state as the rate of clouds is the big issue with me. If it wasn't for the job I'd probably move but not because of the taxation, the voters get what they vote for... (although we in Pierce county voted it down). I suspect any state that has all the nice things such as WA will tax you as well I hear CA is pretty bad, but I sure love the weather in that state.
     
  14. Dec 18, 2019 at 5:30 PM
    #14
    Tchase

    Tchase MostlyLurk

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    I"m sure I could shed some weight if needed :)
     
  15. Dec 18, 2019 at 5:54 PM
    #15
    Tundra234

    Tundra234 New Member

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    Damn I'm glad my tag in Fl is only $103.00 and that's a specialty plate.
     
  16. Dec 18, 2019 at 7:21 PM
    #16
    Tchase

    Tchase MostlyLurk

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  17. Dec 18, 2019 at 7:39 PM
    #17
    Tom_Tundra_TN

    Tom_Tundra_TN New Member

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    I just renewed my vehicle registration. It increased last year from $25.00 to $29.00. Southeast Tennessee. :dancingbacon:
     
  18. Dec 18, 2019 at 8:57 PM
    #18
    Tchase

    Tchase MostlyLurk

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    Wa has high tab fees compared to a lot of states however I think that should be relative (proportional). However there are two long contested issues.
    1. How they calculate value. They do not go by actual sales or Kelly Blue book. They use some crazy as scheme..
    Example for a 2016 Honda Odyssey:
    MSRP: $30,000
    Depreciation years: 2019 (current year) - 2016 (year the vehicle was made) = 3 + 1 = 4 total years of depreciation
    4th year depreciation percentage is 83% according to the current schedule.
    $30,000 (original MSRP) x 83% (depreciation)= $24,900
    $24,900 (reduced value) x 1.1% (current excise tax rate) = $273.90 due

    Not a day goes by I regret not paying attention in math :(

    2. The Regional Transit Athority(RTA) created by the state to “fix” our crappy transit in the greater Puget Sound area. Everett (N. Of Seattle) to Olympia (S. Of Seattle). The RTA has been an absolute failure and the state is so desperate to salvage it they extended the boundaries to suburbs that currently and in the future will get zero benefit. Individual counties have voted it down and were still forced into the boundaries of the RTA.

    Our actual tab registration fee is 30 dollars. And who knows where that money goes because this state has a general slush fund.

    ok rant off but thank you OP for finding the loop hole, let’s hope it doesn’t get closed.

    I don’t understand why weighing more is exempt, probably lobbyist for commercial...



    1F4A2CFF-0F79-4D90-8FE1-B159B58058D6.jpg
     
    LyonKing[OP] likes this.
  19. Dec 19, 2019 at 11:13 AM
    #19
    JH5370

    JH5370 Member

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    Nice work! I don’t have to pay that over here on the east side but good to know if that ever changes.
     
    LyonKing[OP] likes this.
  20. Jan 3, 2020 at 3:10 PM
    #20
    danz75

    danz75 New Member

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    20200103_135343.jpg
     
  21. Jan 6, 2020 at 3:50 PM
    #21
    bmann7

    bmann7 Silver Sky Platinum Pro

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    6,700lbs for me today - now I just have to wait for the DOL office to be open so I can update the info there.
     
    Green Thunder and LyonKing[OP] like this.
  22. Feb 25, 2020 at 9:23 AM
    #22
    MGM

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    Patiently waiting for updates on this...
     
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  23. Feb 25, 2020 at 5:09 PM
    #23
    Tchase

    Tchase MostlyLurk

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    I keep forgetting to call and follow up...
     
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  24. Feb 26, 2020 at 12:14 PM
    #24
    Tchase

    Tchase MostlyLurk

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    **** UPDATE ****

    I just got off the phone with the, said there was big back log and they were still working on Nov. of 2019. I said I just want to make sure I'm in the "Q", she looked up my vin and said oops in fact your form was processed on the 25th of this month with a note. At the time it was titled and registered it was the wieght of the OEM and I would not be getting a refund because there is no "provision" I would argue the RCW's are pretty clear....

    But I'm not because she said going forward I will not be charged RTA with the new weight so its a half a win :)

    She said I should get the letter soon..
     
    PNW_Husky and LyonKing[OP] like this.
  25. Feb 26, 2020 at 2:58 PM
    #25
    Tchase

    Tchase MostlyLurk

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    I'll get it weighed again :)
     
  26. Feb 26, 2020 at 7:24 PM
    #26
    MJoeP

    MJoeP New Member

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    38 X 6 = 228 lbs
     
  27. Feb 26, 2020 at 7:41 PM
    #27
    Tchase

    Tchase MostlyLurk

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    BTW @LyonKing thank you for doing the leg work. If I ever see you I owe you at the very least a beer
     
    LyonKing[OP] likes this.
  28. Feb 26, 2020 at 10:00 PM
    #28
    LyonKing

    LyonKing [OP] No way Bells is bigger than Waimea bro...

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    Happy to help!
     
  29. Feb 26, 2020 at 10:01 PM
    #29
    LyonKing

    LyonKing [OP] No way Bells is bigger than Waimea bro...

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    Just got this in the mail today. We’ll see what happens, no celebrating till I get a check but this seems promising.
    8905F7E6-514A-4D36-AF79-24DBE9F867A3.jpg
     
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  30. Feb 27, 2020 at 4:54 AM
    #30
    Tchase

    Tchase MostlyLurk

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    I’m guessing for my refund I was too soon? I guess we will see what mine says.

    They don’t mentioned going forward about the RTA, maybe it’s a given?
     

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