House Transportation defers fix on vehicle purchase-price valuation to first-day calendar

Representative Tim Goodwin reintroduced House Bill 1141 to the House Transportation Committee on Feb. 19, proposing that the purchase price used to calculate tax and registration for a used motor vehicle acquired by gift or transfer be determined by the actual amount paid (bill of sale) rather than the department’s reference valuation, which can exceed the buyer’s paid price.

Goodwin argued the current practice can impose unexpected tax bills on buyers who paid a lower private-party price and called the bill a consumer-protection measure. Lawmakers discussed concerns about out-of-state filings that report zero value and whether current statutes and prosecutorial avenues address deliberate falsification of bills of sale.

Representative Shorma moved to defer HB1141 to the 40-first day to allow further study and potential amendment; the motion carried.