Is this normal?

[tango5]

Ok so i bought a rifle online and had it shipped to my local FFL. It was paid in full online to the shop that sold it to me that is out of state. Is it normal for my local FFL to charge me sales tax on the price of the rifle? This is my first time buying a firearm and having it shipped to my FFL dealer to do the paperwork, i usually buy it from the shop, but it was a crazy smokin deal that i couldn't pass up on a rifle i have been looking for. Thanks in advance.

[Bruce3]

no its not normal, transfer your rifle else where.

[domokun]

Some FFL transfer dealers will charge you sales tax on your transfer to cover their butts as per CA directions for sales tax collections on sales. However, if your FFL transfer dealer doesn't charge you sales tax, then it is your legal responsibility to pay the sales tax you would have paid to the FFL transfer dealer as use tax on your tax return for that year.

[k0ncept]

I would take it to another FFL..

[CSACANNONEER]

It doesn't make a difference if your FFL charges you sales tax or you pay the sales tax directly to the state yourself. The bottom line is that you are legally required to pay the sales tax for any taxable item that you import into the state.

[Jonathan Doe]

It doesn't make a difference if your FFL charges you sales tax or you pay the sales tax directly to the state yourself. The bottom line is that you are legally required to pay the sales tax for any taxable item that you import into the state.

I heard that before, but I guess not everyone is complying.

[Jonathan Doe]

deleted: double post

[CSACANNONEER]

I heard that before, but I guess not everyone is complying.

I think that not everyone is aware of the law. I'm sure that everyone who know the law does the right thing.

[tango5]

Ok that makes sense. The guy at the shop told me why they charged tax, like i said, i never did this type of transfer before so its all new to me. I like this shop, they are honest, very helpful and knowledgeable, good prices, and awesome selection, and also a Calguns supporter, hell they knock $25 off their transfer fee if you are a CG member. I drive 45 minutes to do business with them, when i have 3 other gun shops within 5-20 minutes from my house.

[norcal77]

Ok that makes sense. The guy at the shop told me why they charged tax, like i said, i never did this type of transfer before so its all new to me. I like this shop, they are honest, very helpful and knowledgeable, good prices, and awesome selection, and also a Calguns supporter, hell they knock $25 off their transfer fee if you are a CG member. I drive 45 minutes to do business with them, when i have 3 other gun shops within 5-20 minutes from my house.

Can you name the shop so that other people can experience this great service? You are in my part of Cali and so far most of the shops I have dealt with are not that friendly.

[tango5]

Can you name the shop so that other people can experience this great service? You are in my part of Cali and so far most of the shops I have dealt with are not that friendly.

Gladly, J&R Sports in Livermore. I live in Pleasant Hill, Diablo Gun Works is litteraly 4 miutes from my home, then there is Canyon in Martinez, and Antioch Armory in Antioch. These 3 shops i will never do business with again.

I lived in Antioch for 20 years, Antioch Armory was the shop i did all my business with, and i mean ALL. Back when a guy named Ron owned the place, he was a top notch guy, retired Police Officer, and treated every customer like a king. Then he retired the shop and sold it to another guy who is out to get you for everything he can. Over charges for things, then complains about the DOJ and how hard it is to own a gun shop and how his prices are high and that he has a family to feed etc.... I dont care about his personal problems, but if he keeps his prices high, he wont be in business for much longer.

Then there is Diablo, small selection, but the overweight guy, i cant remember which one is Ken or Bill, but the guy who wheezes when he breaths. He tried to sell me a 1911, used, for the same price as it was brand new and said i couldn't find that pistol anywhere. Low and behold, J&R had the same one for about $40 cheaper, and brand new in their glass case. When a shop tries to lie and take advantage of their customers is the day i no longer or will not do business with them.

Canyon is over priced as well and likes to haggle prices. I'm not buying a car, i don't need a salesman telling me what i need and don need and try to over charge me. And that's if they even pay attention to you when you walk through the door. One time i was standing there waiting to be helped, thinking that the 2 guys conversation was business related and thought one of them was a customer. I waited for a good 10 minutes until one of them looked at me and asked if i needed help. I said yes, the other guy he was talking too walked back behind the counter. if i would have known that they both were employees, i would have interrupted them. But neither of them even acknowledged me while i was standing there. Last time i step foot in that place.

Back on topic, a few months ago i was looking for a home defense shotgun. Had some free time and heard a few good things about J&R in Livermore. Took the drive out there, had a good price on a Mossy 500 Special Purpose 12ga, exactly what i was looking for. Randy the owner helped me, made me feel welcomed, educated me on the 500, and has a good sense of humor. I bought that shotgun from him that day.

Last week i was in a bind, my Remington 700 SPS Tactical was to arrive at their shop on Tuesday, i had a family emergency that required us to leave for Oregon that afternoon. I called J&R before they even opened, a lady answers and i explain my situation. I wanted to know when they received their shipments, so i can head there to get the paperwork started for my 10 day wait. She said, when their UPS Next Day driver shows up, she will have him to call the regular UPS driver and see if he can run that particular shipment, (my rifle), to them earlier than the normal delivery to accommodate my urgency. I didn't want to wait 7 days until i got back, then wait another 10 days to pick it up. That right there, what she did showed me the awesome customer service, even though i didn't buy the rifle from them. They got a customer for life. Thanks J&R Guns!

[bluthandwerk]

J&R has always been upfront about collecting the use tax on out of state sales.

[jrsportssupply]

When I first opened the shop, I contacted the CA State Board of Equalization about this very issue, mainly because the former owners had been fined for not collecting sales tax on out-of-state purchases. I was given a written response from the BOE, that basically says I have to collect use tax on new firearms purchased from out of state. Any of you are welcome to view the BOE response to my question.
Gun shops that do not collect use tax on out-of-state purchases are accumulating a liability that they are unaware of. This issue has been debated at length on Calguns, but the bottom line is that we (gun dealers in CA) must collect use tax on out-of-state purchases. If we don't, we are liable not only for the back-taxes, but penalties & interest on those unpaid taxes.

I really hope that our customers understand the position we are in. We don't like charging this tax, but we really don't have a choice in the matter.

Thanks for listening.

[Vin496]

When I first opened the shop, I contacted the CA State Board of Equalization about this very issue, mainly because the former owners had been fined for not collecting sales tax on out-of-state purchases. I was given a written response from the BOE, that basically says I have to collect use tax on new firearms purchased from out of state. Any of you are welcome to view the BOE response to my question.
Gun shops that do not collect use tax on out-of-state purchases are accumulating a liability that they are unaware of. This issue has been debated at length on Calguns, but the bottom line is that we (gun dealers in CA) must collect use tax on out-of-state purchases. If we don't, we are liable not only for the back-taxes, but penalties & interest on those unpaid taxes.

I really hope that our customers understand the position we are in. We don't like charging this tax, but we really don't have a choice in the matter.

Thanks for listening.

How do you know how much to charge? Who tells you how much was paid, or if it's new?

[Vin496]

Ok that makes sense. The guy at the shop told me why they charged tax, like i said, i never did this type of transfer before so its all new to me. I like this shop, they are honest, very helpful and knowledgeable, good prices, and awesome selection, and also a Calguns supporter, hell they knock $25 off their transfer fee if you are a CG member. I drive 45 minutes to do business with them, when i have 3 other gun shops within 5-20 minutes from my house.

Who cares if they add almost 10% to your tranfser.

You can keep the $25, I would save more than $250+ on some of my gun purchases.