Washington State Firearms Taxes

S

stealthman

New member
I recently bought a rifle online and headed to my local FFL. The laws here used to read that only new and used (dealer firearms) were taxable. Guns transfered from individuals or gifted from family members, etc., were not. They changed the laws now so that all firearms carry a "usage tax" like a used car gets taxed. If it is a gift transaction, the FFL has to come up with a fair market value and still tax you based on that. This is what I gathered loosely from my FFL, but for those that hadn't heard, it can add up on a used gun.
 
I'm trying to understand what you are saying.... If I'm an in-state resident and I sell or give a firearm to another in-state resident, the firearm has to be "Registered" through a FFL so a tax can be applied???

If so, that's almost enough to keep me out of that state as a resident.,.
 
Turtle,

Technically yes, if I am understanding it correctly. They want you to transfer firearms through an FFL and pay tax on the "assesed" fair market value even if it is a family gifting. Kind of like when you sell or gift a car to someone you have to transfer the title and pay sales tax on it even though sales tax was already paid at the original purchase. I'm sure no one would actually go in to have an FFL transfer something like that, but that is how it reads. The gun I bought was a .17AH on here. When I went in to get an FFL copy to mail out, he told me that I needed to print off the page showing the price so that he had it for his records in case of an audit. He was venom spitting mad at the state, but I'm sure there will be a few surprise audits this next year that will nail a few people who weren't paying attention. I'm not sure how many states do this, but we also have a separate form to fill out when buying a handgun that is for state record keeping. They have on file every papered handgun you have ever bought. Looks like a way to make a few bucks while finding out what guns you have and getting a few of the old pre-registration ones on the books.
 
You are required legally to pay sales tax on anything you buy or bring into your state of residence.

Nothing new about that.

Jack
 
But Jack,, Normally, there is no tax on person-to-person private sales between two people in the same state...Much less any formal paperwork filed with the state or feds...

I realize that states across the country are hurting budget wise, but we don't need another form of firearm registration in any manner...They are just looking to kill two birds with one shot on this one..Extra Income Source and an Inventory on Firearms..
 
I'm still not seeing the whole picture...

Did you buy the gun from another individual, who like you, lives in Washington, or did the transaction cross state lines..?

If it crossed state lines, like Jack said...it's nothing new.

-BCB
 
Yes, the way it used to be, was if you purchased a firearm from an individual, there was no sales tax when you got it here and transfered it whether it crossed state lines or not. I used to have to take in the Gunbroker/classified ad to show the FFL to prove that it was purchased from an individual. Most local dealers didn't require more than a verbal confirmation. The only time sales tax had to be paid was if the gun was purchased from a dealer. So it is new. The way it now reads is that whether the gun is purchased/given and regardless of whether it is a trasaction from someone in or out of state, sales tax has to be paid when an FFL is involved. I'm not trying to pick at particulars, just thought I would let any of the Washington guys know what I learned. When you add on $50-$100 on a rifle, it can change what you would like to pay for it originally.
 
Originally Posted By: OldTurtleI realize that states across the country are hurting budget wise, but we don't need another form of firearm registration in any manner...They are just looking to kill two birds with one shot on this one..Extra Income Source and an Inventory on Firearms..

Exactly.
It stinks for the FFL's because they are having to now collect tax on something where no money was collected or made. I could see tax on the transfer fee, but not on the gun. If I order a whole pile of brass from Midway, the UPS guy doesn't charge me sales tax. We have just under 9% sales tax here, so that can add up on a nice rifle. Just passing the info along.
 
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When I first read this I thought your FFL dealer was trying to pull a fast one to make some extra money.

The face-to-face and the gift transfer would be particularly hard (read almost impossable) to enforce.
Just think about it; guy buys a gun and does all the paper work then a year later he decides to give it to his wife or kid. Take it somewhere to have a new set of paperwork done and pay a tax on the transfer? I wouldn't. After all the only way to get caught would be if one of you admitted to it. Pretty much the same with a face-to-face transfer.
 
Does this mean every firearm puchase comes off your gross income, like a business....?

If this is true it's probably coming to a state near you.

So if a liberal politician gave another liberal politician
his favorite gerbal would it be taxed in Wa State also?

Just asking to see if they're trying to be fair.
 
Time to get rid of all of the democrats. If you buy a gun and you have to go through a FFL then get a Bill of Sale for $7.50 and pay tax on that.
 
Yep, like Jack said; it's nothing new. Washington State has had a law in place for as long as I can remember that you are required to remit sales tax to the state for ALL purchases. Not too many folks do it for online or catalogue purchases though.

Sounds to me like you need to find a different FFL to run your online purchases through. I used to have a small gunshop, and I know that each and every firearm that passed into and out of an FFL's possesion must me recorded in both of the books. However, most FFL holders still do not charge a sales tax for purchases that were made such as yours. The only time there is a record of a transaction sent to the state of Washington is when it's made with check or credit card, or the purchase has a title attached to it, (like a motor vehicle). Just pay cash for all your firearms. There will be a record for the ATF in the bound book that your FFL has, the only way around that is to have a face to face cash transaction with a private party in this state. As far as I'm aware, that's still legal. (Of course you have to remit sales tax no matter what).
 
The ATF busted the local flee markets here in my home town a few yrs back.. Everyone was surprised because a face to face was supposed to be permitted here in KY. However, there was no sales tax being paid because the registration process was being skipped. Jack is correct! this is nothing new..
 
Here are the 2010 changes formally and informally.

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=82.08.010

http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?f=126&t=217222&start=0

Just for kicks yesterday I went to two other local gun shops I frequent while out running errands. They all gave me the same story as the first. Maybe this is standard practice in some parts of the state, but it is new to this area. Guess we have gotten spoiled in our ignorance over here. I wonder how gunshows are "supposed" to process tax and if there will be any changes with that too.
 
Guess its time to vote "FERRET FACE" out of the governors office.Was hoping Deno would do it. But it looks like hes going after Murray's Senate seat. OH WELL! You can't win them all.
 
This kind of reminds me of the old "Personal Property Tax" that we used to have here. The county sent you a form that you filled out and then you paid tax on what you were dumb enough to admit owning.
One example, the year they finally got rid of it there were only two people in the county that would admit to owning a TV set. Most of the places selling them had more than that on display. One of the richest men in the county supposedly only admitted to owning 12 chickens.

Good luck to Oregon trying to collect on most of these sales.
 
This is true. My gunsmith/Dealer told me about this a few weeks ago.

I buy everything from him even though it may not be the cheapest prices around I support his business.

I have been looking for another rifle. I found one on GunBroker. So for me to get it here and in my hands goes like this:

$50 shipping fee to FFL
$50 FFL paperwork.
$1100 rifle
$95.70 in Sales Tax @8.7%

So my $1100 Rifle just cost me $195.70 to even be in my hands!!!!

Complete BS!!!


Now. If you have planned to buy in Washington then you already have given in to paying sales Tax.

But for those of us who have found it cheaper elsewhere it really hurts.

Incumbents look out!! I'm voting against you reguardless of party affiliation!!!! SICK OF YOU ALL!!!!!

Rant off....
 
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