charging TAX

[TylerScott]

If i buy a gun off of gunbroker and get it shipped to a local FFL, does that FFL charge me TAX on the whole weapon?

[TylerScott]

Never mind i looked up USE TAX

[kemasa]

Just in case someone else ask, the answer depends on whether it is coming from a business or a private party. If it is from a private party, they need to provide a letter to document that.

See: CA Sales Tax Firearms Information (495.0843 & 495.0848)

http://www.boe.ca.gov/business/Vol2/suta-q-s.pdf

[bohoki]

i dont understand how the ffl knows how much you paid

[kemasa]

That is not the problem of the CA BOE, that is a problem for the FFL to deal with. Yes, it puts the FFL in a bad spot and basically in a no-win position, but according to the law, the CA Business is required to collect the sales tax.

Firearms are a bit different than other items, more like vehicles, in that even if you pay for it, it is not yours until it is actually transfered. That means that the actual transfer occurs in CA, in this case.

As you say, the problem is how does the FFL know what the person paid. In order to protect themselves, the FFL should get a copy of the receipt or something else that shows what was paid. Printouts from auction sites work well.

In the end, the CA BOE will get the money from the CA business (FFL).