WA Residents only: Do you pay the Washington State Use Tax?

Question

In Washington State, the Department of Revenue collects a use tax from its residents each month on the 20th.

A description can be found at http://dor.wa.gov/content/findtaxesandrates/usetax/ and a FAQ sheet here: http://dor.wa.gov/docs/pubs/excisetax/retailsales_usetax/usetax.pdf

It appears to be a law to pay this tax, but rather conspicuously absent of enforcement. When it applies, do you pay it?

Sources area: Please provide number of years as a WA resident.

Answer 1

Although I'm not from WA, there is nothing new about this. Virtually every state with a Sales and Use tax has similar requirements. Luckily for the taxpayers -- and unluckily for the states -- no state has a reliable method of tracking out-of-state or private purchases and levying the tax aside from motor vehicles.

About the only chance they (the states) would have would be some sort of customs declaration any time that people cross the state line or customs-like inspections of goods crossing state lines. The costs of such as program would be prohibitive -- probalby much more so than the taxes that would be collected. Not to mention the fact that the public simply would not tolerate that level of invasiveness into their personal affairs.

Answer 2

No. In Montana we pay sources tax and taxes they do no longer might want to pay in California. California receives taxes from its voters. you'll might want to pay tax on motels and hotel places which includes Disney Land yet no longer on some thing else.

Answer 3

Sounds like brain damage to me too...I wonder why states would enact such stupid legislation. It not practical, difficult to track, hard to prove and the burden on the taxpayer is unreasonable.