Sales tax on internet gun purchase

[hotrail]

I purchased a rifle from Sportsman's Guide and had it shipped to my local FFL here in California.

Now I understand the FFL has to collect sales tax based on the price I paid, and remit to state of CA. But Sportsman's Guide has already added the applicable 8% tax to my order, and I paid that to Sportsman's Guide at the time of the order.

So my FFL says I have to pay the same tax to him, and that i should call Sportsman's Guide and insist that they refund me the tax that was collected. I can't be the only guy Calguns who has bought a gun from SG. Surely some of you have ended up in this double tax situation. Has anyone had any luck getting a refund of the tax from Sportsman's Guide?

BTW I did use the "search" function and found no mention of this problem. Funny how it seems every day we find a new way that the laws and regulations of state of California make life worse for its citizens.

[dyson]

FFL just needs to see you paid tax on your receipt from SG, and then no need to tax you.

[Hairball]

If you paid the correct percentage (8%) for your area and that is documented on the invoice then you don't pay again. If the percentage is higher in your area of CA, over 8%, then you pay the difference. I have ordered several firearms outside of CA and I have never had a vendor collect CA sales tax on their end.

[hotrail]

If you paid the correct percentage (8%) for your area and that is documented on the invoice then you don't pay again. If the percentage is higher in your area of CA, over 8%, then you pay the difference. I have ordered several firearms outside of CA and I have never had a vendor collect CA sales tax on their end.

That's what I said to the FFL. He said no, he has to collect tax on every sale. I have the receipt from Sportsman's Guide that shows they charged tax at the correct rate of 8.00% for my city. So I am probably stuck in between a FFL (who doesn't understand the rules) and SG. I can tell the FFL is the kind of guy that doesn't want to hear it. Understandably, he doesn't want to get audited and have any grief with the state.

I guess the bottom line is I just chose the wrong FFL to do my transfer. I won't name them because they have been good guys in the past. Next time I do one of these i will use a different local FFL and make sure he understands the rules. Meanwhile my rifle is with this particular FFL, so all that stands between my and my new toy is a 10 day wait and paying the bleeping sales tax a second time...

[Barang]

Yes! just show the receipt indicating you already paid it.

The FFL is wrong. I bought guns from Gunbroker and GunsAmerica and some collect and some do not. But I don't have to pay twice as long as the receipt shows it's paid.

[Bainter1212]

If the FFL makes you pay sales tax again, call the BOE and let them know. Show both receipts.

All it would take is a call from them to him to get the situation corrected.

[Tovarish]

Your FFL is incompetent.

[Jimmy's]

You need a new FFL dealer.

[Spyder]

Your ffl is stealing from you.

[tileguy]

please after you pay the sales tax and pick up you firearm let us know who this FFL is so we dont get boned by him, and he can think twice about his actions. what he is doing is wrong

[MJB]

Your ffl is stealing from you.

And giving it to the evil state

[hotrail]

I have had good experiences with this shop before. Based on past dealings with them, I think they are honest guys. To be fair, the sales tax laws are a bit complicated and the California BOE people can be pretty aggressive about chasing businesses for supposedly not collecting and remitting tax. I think the guy is just trying to stay out of trouble. When I said I needed a different FFL, I only mean because some others may do business with SG more often, and have worked out this issue.

Hopefully we can get it sorted out. Anyway thanks for the responses.

[swiss_]

It's not rocket science. Show the FFL that you have paid the proper taxes, and they should have no problem with the transaction. If I were you, I would out them so that other members of the community don't have to put up with this nonsense.

[axel4488]

If the FFL makes you pay sales tax again, call the BOE and let them know. Show both receipts.

All it would take is a call from them to him to get the situation corrected.

This. Be on the phone with the BOE as you're picking up your rifle. Have them on speaker and let the FFL specifically that a complaint is being filed unless they abide by law.

[vinny_land]

Wait what? You're paying tax on a firearm and once your start DROS+transfer you pay an additional tax?

Just curious if this is a normal thing with FFL's and if their "tax" varies depending on which county you live in.