[quirkySquirt]

On a lark, I looked up what taxes for me would be in WA state when I renew my tabs. Oddly enough, the Sound Transit 3 bill passed last year has yielded a new RTA Excise tax of $347 on my Volt, on top of my $150 EV fee.

You can estimate even used Volts, which for a 2015 Gen 1 base model is $336.

I didn't even vote for the thing as I hate the construction's effect on traffic I have to sludge through.

My total fees this year will be $650 for my new Volt. >_<

 

[Raymondjram]

Ask your Congresspersons to vote against it, since you voted for them last November.

 

[ghostgs1]

Wow! That's a large chunk of taxes! So, is this a flat percentage of vehicles value, regardless of weight or fuel type? Our transportation district collects from sales taxes and our town is scheduled to finally get rail transport in 2042! Doubt that I will get to use that.

 

[LANMAN]

The renewal for our 2012 Volt went from a little over $200 to $500 between the new RTA tax and EV fee. The RTA tax is a percentage of the original MRSP, so our fully loaded Volt is taxed higher than newer Volts, even though the blue book value is less! At least I drive 90% on electric, so only about 10% double tax on the EV fee.

 

[alfon]

Buying an electric car to help the enviorment, a noble cause indeed. The State of Washington, soon to be The State of Taxes, blesses you with increased fees and taxes for owning one. No good deed goes unpunished....

 

[hellsop]

Wow! That's a large chunk of taxes! So, is this a flat percentage of vehicles value, regardless of weight or fuel type? Our transportation district collects from sales taxes and our town is scheduled to finally get rail transport in 2042! Doubt that I will get to use that.

It's 1.1% of the original MSRP, adjusted by a depreciation table that the state pulled out of their ... ear... that's almost linear from 100% the first year after the model year down to about 10% at 13+ years after the model year. No concern for what the car's actually worth, how it's powered, or what use its put, so long as it's not a farm or government vehicle.

 

[alfon]

I'm sure the people out in the hinterlands of Washington State are quite happy and contended paying those fees and taxes for
a project that we all know will be over budget and more taxes and fees will be required. I sure am glad I moved from Washington to Oregon 25 years ago. Even though Oregon is a liberal state as well. Next place to move; Texas...

 

[voganni]

The RTA tax only applies to Pierce, King, and Snohomish counties. Those of us on the "right" side of the state are blessedly exempt. Now that stinking EV tax however..........Interesting that the Volt is currently the only hybrid car that qualifies for the EV tax. (must be able to go 30 miles on its "alternative" power source. Buy the best hybrid car, get punished by Washington!

 

[Mister Dave]

I understand WA is looking at changing to a road usage tax scheme.

However, if you were paying the gasoline tax at 49.4 cents a gallon what would that amount to? It's the second highest tax rate in the country.

 

[quirkySquirt]

I'm ok with the EV Tax of $150 since my I'd have paid $350 in gas taxes with my old ICE. I am not comfortable with the inept depreciation schedule here:

http://www.dol.wa.gov/vehicleregistration/depreciation-schedule.html

Just like hellsop pointed out, it's effin linear. They're essentially penalizing newer, more efficient car ownership (even new ICEs get better MPG now) let along EV ownership. Even the lightly used used market for cars less than 5 years old will get taxed heavily.

Guess if the aim was to get more people to use ST3's lightrail and busses, then mission accomplished. Who in their right mind would own a newish car now? Hoping current movements to at least have ST rework their depreciation model to match reality succeeds.

As for the usage model of taxation, they're piloting a few individuals but only to collect info: they're still collecting taxes the old way. I'm hoping this too gets used in place of existing gas taxes and EV annual registration taxes. Even with my 60-80 mile round-trip commutes, I'll probably pay less than the ST3 RTA Excise Tax.

 

[alfon]

The Volt still has a gasoline engine, it is not 100% electric. Owners are not required to plug it in upon ownership. In fact if electric rates can increase to a point where if gasoline stays at the current price there may be a time it would be less money per mile to drive on gas instead of electricity.