Need Some Advise......

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Flutterby

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I had my boat in Contra Costa County, paying my annual taxes on time every year. In June 2010, my son took the boat to Alaska along with full title and responsibility.

Of course, at the end of the year, I received a tax bill. So I dutifully filled out the portion of their form to certify that I no longer owned the boat and gave the location as Doug's address in Nome AK.

End of story, right? NO!!!! I just received a notice of filing a "certificate of lien for record" from CoCoCounty. I'd be tempted to just ignore it, but it is now showing up on my Credit Reports and will negatively affect my excellent FICO Score.

How do I get this lien removed so I can protest it on my Credit Report, etc?

I'm hoping to hear from anyone who has had a similar issue with Contra Costa County for advice.

Thanks!
 
Don't ignore it! I think you have to pay some or all of the tax for 2010 since it was in the county part of the year. I'm not 100% positive. However, I would call and talk to the County Tax office.
 
In San Joaquin county at least, whoever owns the boat on Jan. 1 owes the taxes on it for that year whether you own it for the entire year or not.
 
Have your son sign an affadavit for the sale price, thus establishing the fair market value of the boat. The taxes have to be based on that.
 
quote:
Originally posted by etyppo

In San Joaquin county at least, whoever owns the boat on Jan. 1 owes the taxes on it for that year whether you own it for the entire year or not.

Click to expand...


Thats what I recall as well
 
I carefully read everything on the tax bill when I receive it and it was my understanding that if the boat no longer resided in that county, I needed to notify them, etc.... BTW, the Lien is for 2011 and I gave him the boat in 2010. The boat was not in CoCoCo on Jan 1, 2011.

As an aside, I had also notified the DMV, but they still sent me the renewal for 2012-13. Gawd govt bureaucracies are inept!!!!
 
They did the same same thing with my ski boat that I traded in December 2010. Replied to the initial bill (2011) that it was traded to the dealer in December 2010. Filled out all the DMV paper work when traded in. In the last week or so got a lien notice from Contra Costa County. Haven't had a chance to call them yet.

You should call them and they should be able to instruct you how to clear up the issue.
 
Same thing happened to me this year. I had to pay property tax on my Four Winns for the whole year of 2011 as it was in the state January 15th. And they told me they would place a lien on the boat if I didn't pay it as well as turn it to a collection agency and negatively impact my credit report. Needless to say, I paid it but my hole is still burning from the ream job.

Californica is hurting for money to pay all the f'in caltrans and teachers retirement accounts. They are finding any way they can to get a few extra dollars. That is why companies are leaving hand over fist. And they won't cut a single job because no one has the stones to tell the unions to get off. That is why you have furlough fridays. Those were supposed to end under Moonbeam but I see they are still going on.

Your only resolve is to pay it and explain to them why you didn't and hopefully they will give you a letter saying it was reported in error. Sorry.
 
BTW the boat left the state February 24th. Taxes were in Solano County at 2 1/2%
 
John, in my situation, I had paid for 2010 even though the boat left California in July 2010. It is the 2011 tax bill that I did not pay. And I will NOT pay!!!!

I agree that it seems that CoCoCo is deliberately trying to get more $$$$ out of us taxpayers. Some will pay when they legally do not owe the money. Some, like me, will fight it all the way.

kgd, I guess I'm glad that I am not alone. LOL
 
good luck--- one year i got a tax bill from three counties, two i lived in that year and one from the county the boat was in. I paid the one from the county it was in. The other two filed liens even though I had written both of them about the taxes paid. Two years later after trying to get rid of the liens I paid the other two with penalties. Has anyone ever tried to talk to those people?
 
I've been trying all morning to call them. The phone is constantly busy. I am going to send them a certified, signature required, proof required letter stating the facts and demanding the lien be removed.
If/when that does not work, I will contact the supervisor for the Bethel Island area for assistance, etc. I am willing to spend a hundred bucks to fight this rather then pay for what I do NOT owe!
One time, I fought the IRS when I knew they had made a mistake. It took me 3-years and intervention by my Congressional Rep, but I won!!!
You can fight city hall if you are a retired [has the time] stubborn old fart like myself!!!!
 
quote:
Originally posted by Flutterby

I've been trying all morning to call them. The phone is constantly busy. I am going to send them a certified, signature required, proof required letter stating the facts and demanding the lien be removed.
If/when that does not work, I will contact the supervisor for the Bethel Island area for assistance, etc. I am willing to spend a hundred bucks to fight this rather then pay for what I do NOT owe!
One time, I fought the IRS when I knew they had made a mistake. It took me 3-years and intervention by my Congressional Rep, but I won!!!
You can fight city hall if you are a retired [has the time] stubborn old fart like myself!!!!

Click to expand...
Provide them with the facts and threaten legal action. That usually gets their attention.
 
quote:
Originally posted by Flutterby

If/when that does not work, I will contact the supervisor for the Bethel Island area for assistance, etc.

Click to expand...


Good luck with that! That biatch and a half Mary Piepho is only concerned with one thing. Herself!

But since she just "inherited" BI's district from Glover, maybe she'd be willing to help a person out???

But then again, since you are not a voter from her district, maybe not... Lip service, yes. Results? It's a coin toss...

She has an office in Brentwood and lives in Disco Bay.

Sounds like fun!!! Fighting city hall can be like playing with a barrel of (live) monkeys... [:-bonc01]
 
quote:
Originally posted by etyppo

In San Joaquin county at least, whoever owns the boat on Jan. 1 owes the taxes on it for that year whether you own it for the entire year or not.

Click to expand...


True.

The only deviation from that is when you sell your boat thru a broker. In all of the cases that I am personally aware of, the broker will pro-rate the taxes for the year and you will get credited for the portion of the year that the new owner owns it.

The credit shows up on the sales closing statement, not from the county. The county could care less. They already have your money... ;)
 
quote:
Originally posted by BayAreaBoater

But since she just "inherited" BI's district from Glover, maybe she'd be willing to help a person out???
Click to expand...


Oh durn! I had met Glover a couple of times at San Joaquin Yacht Club and figured he would be responsive. Oh well, I'll still try Mary Piepho if necessary. And I have a few contacts on BI who might be helpful to me also.
 
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