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rjknapp

Montana Registration vs Florida Residency

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Any one have real information on Florida's stance on its residents titling and registering their motorhome through a LLC in Montana but keeping it predominately in Florida?  Last posts I have seen on Montana registration are 5 years old.  The Montana "sellers" of the LLC all say it works in Montana, but are silent on "what if" the motorhome either never sees Montana or is in another state the vast majority of the time.  Has anyone been involved in a traffic stop or been involved in a traffic accident and encountered problems with the government or their insurance company?

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Unless things have drastically changed on Florida license plate cost since I lived there, why would anyone want to go to an LLC? The cost of the plate is by class in Florida as opposed to value such as it is in Alabama and some other states. Plus with a Florida plate, you are entitled to half price camping at any Florida state park.

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The only good reason for a Florida resident to have a Montana LLC, as I see it, is sales tax avoidance, Avoidance, not dodging!:P If you have owned your coach for over 6 - 12 months, then Florida doesn't charge any sales tax when you bring the coach into the state. This is a concept that our new President would approve of! And yes, I do have a Montana LLC, with Texas residency.

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1 hour ago, jleamont said:

LLC as in Limited Liability Corporation?

That's correct Joe. For tax avoidance purposes, Montana has very low tax liability.

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Well, that might avoid one problem and create another mess, big mess I live every single day, :o copied this from another post;

If you run any kind of business from your RV (traveling to car shows to sell Model A parts), you are in fact a real CMV and will need DOT authority, medical card, full CDL, logbooks and apportioned plates  etc.  And remember, a CMV is any vehicle used in commerce over 10,000 lbs registered weight that crosses a state line and if within the state ( PA), anything over 17,000 lbs.  So a 15,000 lb Class B MH which is used in any kind of commercial enterprise that goes out of state is a CMV and will need everything except a CDL and apportioned tags.  Yes, a medical card is needed for all CMV's even if a CDL is not a requirement.

So if the coach registration card is in a business name you are now a Commercial Motor Vehicle and have it on ink to prove it. Depending on the GVWR of the Coach + Toad if the two total over 10,000 lbs......OUCH, no thanks!

 

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If I thought for one second that would work in my favor I would register the coach in my business's name. But plastering a DOT number, IFTA stickers, carrying a Log book and apportioned tags on our coach...no way. I have a CDL and medical card now, that's enough.

I did see a Class A DP with that set up last year at a weight station, guess he learned the hard way. That sparked a big conversation with my DW on why we didn't have to stop and how all of that works.

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55 minutes ago, jleamont said:

If I thought for one second that would work in my favor I would register the coach in my business's name. But plastering a DOT number, IFTA stickers, carrying a Log book and apportioned tags on our coach...no way. I have a CDL and medical card now, that's enough.

I did see a Class A DP with that set up last year at a weight station, guess he learned the hard way. That sparked a big conversation with my DW on why we didn't have to stop and how all of that works.

I have none of those on or in my coach and I never stop at weigh stations. My Montana tags are standard vanity tags (Yellowstone NP). I have no CDL, do have a Texas DL for over 26K towing under 10K. No medical card, not needed. The coach is not used in any form of commerce. Since the LLC makes no money, there is no need for any tax filings. This was all set up by some good attorneys in Missoula MT who seem to make a good a good living doing such.

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I have TX. tags, cost me $782 + $7.00 for inspection 2 weeks ago....In Texas it goes by weight.  My toad is $80 + $27.50 for inspection, also 2 weeks ago.  Not doing that again! :angry:

My CPA and Attorney is currently setting up a Tax Free Foundation, in Texas and it will own my current coach and toad...no Montana and/or Oregon LLC needed.  Yes, there are certain criteria that must be met, but all in all it's not difficult and it requires a minimum of $10,000 investment. :)

Carl 

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King, you might want to ask and revisit them if for nothing else for price of mind to make sure they didn't miss something. You would have to prove your LLC makes no money and to be honest a business is a business,  I wore that hat once, I wouldn't care one bit, your registration card tells it all. On the side of the road they will not care if your business passes out flowers for free on the side of the road or you own a Fortune 500 company. The registration card comes back to a business and that is all they will know. Non profit organizations also have DOT numbers, CDL's, log books etc...

At the end of the day you will be fined on the roadside, you can explain that to the Judge as it is your right and if they let it go great.

keep in mind on the side of the road it is what it is, beyond that it's up to the judge and you to prove your case.

happy trails

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Taxes in PA are simple 6% at time of purchase. Done!

registration annually $121.00

PA State inspection, annually $69.00

i wanted to register the coach in the business, to many problems come from that listed above. I asked my attorney about starting another small company to use the coach as a write off, he told me to put the Matches down before I get burned and walk away. You would have a hard time explaining how you are paying or paid for something of that magnitude from $0 income. 

But to each his own. 

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It's called a donation.  Also, the coach would be doing the same as it does now, I'm on a call up, in the event that I'm within 200 miles of a Shriner Children's Hospital and transport is needed, I pick up and deliver to nearest Airport...done that many times to or from.  Also, I do not need a DCL, DOT# ....log book I have now.  Never have had to stop for anything...most times I call the State police and get an escort.

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