Hidden taxes.... State says I must now register all ATVs

[Tim Hancock]

Just got a letter from our home insurance company stating the state is requiring me to title/register all ATV's and insure them separately. I assume that means if someone is injured on my property while riding one of my ATVs, my homeowner liability insurance will not cover me. (of course the person who injures themselves is never held accountable for their actions anymore which also pisses me off)

I am getting pretty fed up with all the hidden taxes that are being levied against us these days. What the hell is going on? This crap is getting ridiculous.
Will it ever end?

Did a quick search and found a partial list stating some of the hidden tax we get rammed down our throats..... It just plain sickens me to the core.

Some of the Taxes Americans Pay Each Year

If you don't read it all, go to the ending then you may want to. Isn't this amazing?

Accounts Receivable Tax

Building Permit Tax

Capital Gains Tax

CDL license Tax

Cigarette Tax

Corporate Income Tax

Court Fines (indirect taxes)

Dog License Tax

Federal Income Tax

Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)

Fishing License Tax

Food License Tax

Fuel permit tax

Gasoline Tax (42 cents per gallon)

Hunting License Tax

Inheritance Tax Interest expense (tax on the money)

Inventory tax IRS Interest Charges (tax on top of tax)

IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax)

Liquor Tax

Local Income Tax

Luxury Taxes

Marriage License Tax

Medicare Tax

Property Tax

Real Estate Tax

Septic Permit Tax

Service Charge Taxes

Social Security Tax

Road Usage Taxes (Truckers)

Sales Taxes

Recreational Vehicle Tax

Road Toll Booth Taxes

School Tax

State Income Tax

State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)

Telephone federal excise tax

Telephone federal universal service fee tax

Telephone federal, state and local surcharge taxes

Telephone minimum usage surcharge tax

Telephone recurring and non-recurring charges tax

Telephone state and local tax

Telephone usage charge tax

Toll Bridge Taxes

Toll Tunnel Taxes

Traffic Fines (indirect taxation)

Trailer registration tax

Utility Taxes

Vehicle License Registration Tax

Vehicle Sales Tax

Watercraft registration Tax

Well Permit Tax

Workers Compensation Tax

COMMENTS: Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago and our nation was the most prosperous in the world, had absolutely no national debt, had the largest middle class in the world and Mom stayed home to raise the kids. What the hell happened?

[TGTIW]

We started a couple of pointless wars?

[vash]

in california, you have to pay annual property tax on watercraft. so a bassboat gets property tax.

stupid.

[GH85Carrera]

Oklahoma has a "use" tax now. If I buy anything on-line from a company with no presence in Oklahoma I am supposed to pay the equivalent sales tax.

So all the parts I buy from Pelican I am supposed to pay a tax on. Fortunately all my orders only add up to 10 dollars.

They have a spot on my income tax form for me to deduct $30.00 per yer to cover all of my internet orders.

[Travis944]

So the insurance company sent you a letter saying (essentially) that you have to send them more money. Did you check with the state and make sure they're not altering the truth? I doubt they would flat out lie to you, but from dealing with insurance companies daily, I've learned not to trust them. Just my $0.02

[MotoSook]

If you title and insure your ATV, can you then drive it on public roads?

Unless the state specifically added ATVs to the list of mandatory insured vehicles, tell your insurance company you will not be renewing.

Insurance companies are a nice racket with well paid lobbyists who have succeeded in making insurance mandatory. I have 9+ vehicles, and they require me to insure all of them at standard rates, as if I could drive more than one at a time! My wife works in insurance and I've made it plenty clear in my house how much I hate the industry.

[oldE]

"COMMENTS: Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago"

Perhaps a bit of hyperbole.


History (from Wikipedia)
Main article: Taxation history of the United States

Tariffs were the largest source of federal revenue from the 1790s to the eve of World War I, until they were surpassed by income taxes.[citation needed]

The first federal statutes imposing the legal obligation to pay a federal income tax were adopted by Congress in 1861 and 1862 to pay for the Civil War. The 1862 law levied a 3% tax on incomes above $800, rising to 5% for incomes above $10,000. Rates were raised in 1864. This income tax was repealed in 1872, but a new income tax statute was enacted as part of the Wilson-Gorman Tariff Act in 1894.[1]

The United States Constitution specified Congress could impose a direct tax only if it was apportioned among the states according to each state's census population.[2] In its 1895 decision the Supreme Court held in the case of Pollock v. Farmers' Loan & Trust Co. that a tax on income from property (a tax on interest, dividends or rent) was a direct tax under the Constitution, and so had to be apportioned.

The apportionment requirement made income taxes on property practically impossible, and Congress did not want to limit the income tax solely to a tax on wages. Therefore, in 1909 Congress proposed the Sixteenth Amendment, which became part of the Constitution in 1913 when it was ratified by the required number of states. The Amendment modified the requirement for apportionment of direct taxes by exempting all income taxes—whether considered direct or indirect—from the apportionment requirement.

Still no fun.

Les

[Tim Hancock]

Originally Posted by Travis944

So the insurance company sent you a letter saying (essentially) that you have to send them more money. Did you check with the state and make sure they're not altering the truth? I doubt they would flat out lie to you, but from dealing with insurance companies daily, I've learned not to trust them. Just my $0.02

Good point, but I have decided that I simply am not thrilled with the idea of paying the state or insurance company any more of my hard earned money than they already squeeze out of me in registration fees for my PWC, airplanes, cars, trucks, trailers and motorcycles.

[island911]

it's for your safety. w/o those taxes who would check to make sure your ATV doesn't have any lead paint.

[Tim Hancock]

Originally Posted by oldE

"COMMENTS: Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago"

Perhaps a bit of hyperbole.




Still no fun.

Les

Perhaps, but I am fed up with the increasing amounts of hidden taxes and regulation on things I buy/consume.

[island911]

Govt bubble - It's a ratchet effect.

that is, when the economy is really humming, the bureaucrats get a good chunk of change. Then, when the economy slows, the bureaucrats feel that they need to raise taxes to maintain their lifestyle. ...Then, should the economy start humming again, the bureaucrats get even more money, have even bigger expenditures . . . and when the economy slows again, they raise taxes again, to make up your for your production short-falls.

...keeps on ratcheting until revolt.

[Travis944]

Originally Posted by Tim Hancock

Good point, but I have decided that I simply am not thrilled with the idea of paying the state or insurance company any more of my hard earned money than they already squeeze out of me in registration fees for my PWC, airplanes, cars, trucks, trailers and motorcycles.

No, I totally understand (not the owning of planes, trucks, trailers and motorcycle part lol) It's all about the dollar and any way they can get it from us.

[Hugh R]

I didn't see flood control tax.

We also pay special assessments for mosquito control, street lighting, sewer bonds, water bonds, highway, high speed rail, and a bunch of others.

If you think about it, you pay the employer side of SS tax on every single person involved in making/producing everything that you buy as the end user. For a six pack of beer, that is the farming, seed, fertilizer, water, tractor, fuel, the mining of the bauxite to make the aluminum can,everything.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Originally Posted by vash

in california, you have to pay annual property tax on watercraft. so a bassboat gets property tax.

stupid.

On the flipside, if it has a stateroom and a head you can deduct it as a residence, unless the rules have changed.

Moral: Buy a bigger boat.

[Rusty Heap]

Instead of all the whining about "unfair" taxes, look at it this way, and yeah I own many ATV's.

In Washington State, my ATV's are titled and registered as an ORV Off Road Vehicle only.

Yes there is a yearly tab, and plate on each ORV, no you can't legally be on even forest service roads.

Yes the Tab fee goes into the State Level general fund, no it doesn't go to sustain off road activities (my main gripe)

So back to your case of getting titles, and insurance.

As a titled vehicle, it needs its own insurance, same as your auto, truck, or boat.

If your home garage burns down and up in flame goes your toys, as titled vehicles, homeowners doesn't cover them. (typically, unless you have a extra rider policy for them) Same as if the Quads get stolen out of the back of your truck or off a trailer parked when you're in a store shopping or sleeping in a motel, no your auto policy doesn't cover the loss of the quad. Just as if my Truck Camper is broken into while camping and we're off on a hike, my truck policy doesn't cover it........all comes down to each registered titled licensed vehicle needs its own policy.

Progressive Insurance Co. has the best ATV rates out there, comp/collision/liability, heck I think it's only $60-70 a year per quad.

As far as your home-owners insurance covering someone who gets injured on your property, that's up to your policy. Sounds like it's not the insurance company who you're mad at, but the state (title/registration) who is driving the insurance requirement.

Basically, if you want to play, you're going to pay...........

[tabs]

Originally Posted by Tim Hancock

Perhaps, but I am fed up with the increasing amounts of hidden taxes and regulation on things I buy/consume.

BUT YOU LIVE IN AMERICA...You have to pay for the government services you receive somehow, you can't expect them to be handed to you for FREE!. YOU ARE NOT ENTITLED TO EVERYTHING FOR FREE. So if you want to play you have to PAY, so STOP the WHINING.

If you don't like what you are paying go tell your Leaders to cut the services...reduce the spending. It is like Cable TV if the cost of the service is too high you DISCONTINUE the service. Then no more Cable TV bill.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

This is exactly what Mitt Romney did when he was governor of MA. All fees were raised, new fees were assessed. A lot safer/more cowardly politically than raising taxes.

[Tim Hancock]

Originally Posted by tabs

BUT YOU LIVE IN AMERICA...You have to pay for the government services you receive somehow, you can't expect them to be handed to you for FREE!. YOU ARE NOT ENTITLED TO EVERYTHING FOR FREE. So if you want to play you have to PAY, so STOP the WHINING.

If you don't like what you are paying go tell your Leaders to cut the services...reduce the spending. It is like Cable TV if the cost of the service is too high you DISCONTINUE the service. Then no more Cable TV bill.

America today is not the same America I grew up in as a kid. To avoid getting too PARFY, I will leave it at that.

[island911]

Tabs for Surf boards?

Certainly the California surfers should pay to play. ...using all of that wave energy.

and how about a license to operate one? ...not to mention a ten day waiting period to purchase. --those things can kill.

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by Shaun 84 Targa

This is exactly what Mitt Romney did when he was governor of MA. All fees were raised, new fees were assessed. A lot safer/more cowardly politically than raising taxes.

If Taxachusetts is anything like Kalifornia, it is much easier to levy a fee than a tax. That is why everything here is called a "fee."

I am not dminishing the coward element of it, but here it is a matter of expediency.