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May 2, 2006

Out-of-State Purchases: California’s Taxation of Vessels, Vehicles, and Aircraft

In 2004, California temporarily extended, from 90 days to one year, the time that recently purchased vessels, vehicles, and aircraft must be kept out of California in order to avoid the state’s use tax. This report looks at the economic and fiscal impacts of the law change. We find that (1) the law change has resulted in a sharp reduction in out-of-state usage exemptions and an increase in sales and use tax revenues, and (2) the negative economic impacts arising from the measure do not appear to be particularly large.

Introduction

This report has been prepared in response to Chapter 226, Statutes of 2004 (Senate Bill 1100, Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review). Among other things, Chapter 226 temporarily increases-from 90 days to one year-the period that a vessel, vehicle, or aircraft purchased by a California resident must be kept out of California following an out-of-state purchase in order to be exempted from the use tax. This extended one-year period applies to purchases made between October 1, 2004 and June 30, 2006, after which the out-of-state period reverts back to 90 days. The measure requires the Legislative Analyst’s Office to study the economic impact of the temporary law change and report its findings to the Legislature by June 30, 2006.

In this report, we provide background on the sales and use tax (SUT) as it applies to vessels, vehicles, and aircraft; discuss our findings relating to economic and fiscal effects of the measure; and then highlight some of the key policy issues raised by the application of Chapter 226.

Principal Findings

The key findings from our analysis of Chapter 226 are as follows:

Background

California imposes a SUT on the final sale of tangible personal property. (The state does not tax the purchase of intermediate goods that are subsequently incorporated into final products.) The main component of the SUT is the sales tax, which is collected by retailers on most purchases made in California. The second component, the use tax, is applied to nonretail sales occurring inside California as well as purchases made outside of California involving goods which are then brought into California for storage or use in this state.

Administration of the SUT With Respect to Vessels, Vehicles, and Aircraft

Vessels, vehicles, and aircraft purchased in California from licensed dealers are usually subject to the sales tax, which is collected at the time of purchase. In contrast, purchases from private parties made inside of California, as well as all purchases made outside of California for use in this state, are legally subject to the use tax. (In cases where the purchaser has already paid a sales tax to another jurisdiction, a credit is allowed against the use tax owed in California.)

Vessels of less than 26 feet (as well as some larger vessels used in inland waterways) and vehicles are registered in California with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). As part of this registration process, DMV collects the use tax on behalf of the California State Board of Equalization (BOE). However, ocean-going vessels in excess of 26 feet are not registered in California, but rather are documented by the U.S. Coast Guard. Similarly, most private aircraft of any size are registered by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

One implication of the federal registration of large vessels and aircraft is that, unlike the case for vehicles and smaller boats, there is no mechanism for the more-or-less automatic collection of the use tax. This is because neither the federal agencies nor other states involved collect use taxes on behalf of California. Instead, it is up to the buyer to submit the use tax revenues that are due to the state. Given that over 85 percent of such buyers have historically not voluntarily made tax payments at the time of the purchase (whether intentionally or unintentionally), BOE is faced with a major task in enforcing the use tax and ensuring that buyers of large vessels and aircraft comply with the tax law by submitting the use tax monies owed to the state. This is done through a multi-stage process, where:

As a general rule, the use tax is due either (1) within one year of the purchase date of an item or (2) by the end of the month following the date the buyer is contacted by BOE about having a tax liability, whichever comes first. Late payments are subject to interest and, in some cases, penalties.

Implications for Evaluating Chapter 226

The key point of the above situation from the perspective of evaluating the economic and fiscal impacts of Chapter 226 is that this enforcement process can easily take several months, and sometimes even years, to complete. As a result, use tax information is a less-precise and less-timely indicator of current sales trends for the involved commodities than are collections data for commodities subject to the sales tax, which is immediately collected by the dealer.

This potentially long time lag, coupled with the limited time period that has passed since the implementation of Chapter 226, means that the actual use tax collections data that are available at this time provide only a preliminary indication of sales trends that have occurred for the involved commodities since the revised use-tax exemption test became operative in October 2004. This is a significant limitation, given that, in the case of vessels, over three-fourths of overall sales activity is attributable to these nonretail transactions. As a result, our assessment below of the economic and fiscal effects of Chapter 226 necessarily involves rough estimates.

Focus of Chapter 226-Exemption for Out-of-State Usage

Chapter 226 deals with a key exemption to the SUT-out-of-state usage. The changes made by this act to the exemption are summarized in Figure 1 and discussed below. The accompanying box compares California’s laws with respect to vessels to other key yachting regions.

Figure 1

Use Tax Changes Made by Chapter 226

Vessels, Vehicles, and Aircraft Purchased Prior to October 2004

»  Out-of-state purchases subject to the use tax if brought  into California within 90 days of purchase.

»  Use tax does not apply if vessel, vehicle, or aircraft is used outside of
California more than one-half the time during the six-month period
 following its entry into California.

»  Provisions apply to both residents and nonresidents.

Vessels, Vehicles, and Aircraft Purchased Between
October 1, 2004 and June 30, 2006

»  Residents. Out-of-state purchases subject to use tax if brought into California within one year of purchase.

»  Nonresidents. Out-of-state purchases subject to use tax if used or                 stored in California for more than six months of the first year of
ownership.

»  Presumptions. Use tax presumed to apply if:

· Owner is a California resident.

· Purchase is subject to California registration fees (in case of  vehicle) or property taxes (in case of vessel or aircraft).            

· Purchase is used or stored in California more than one-half of the time during the first 12 months of ownership.

»  Repair Exemptions. Exemption for purchases brought into state for
repair, retrofit, or modification (RRM) so long as not used by owner for more than 25 hours during each RRM period.

 

What Are the Laws in Other Regions?

One concern expressed about Chapter 226 is that it could put California at a competitive disadvantage with other major boating regions inside and outside of the United States.

State Tax Policies

Other states have a variety of policies regarding the taxation of vessels, vehicles, and aircraft. Some states with large yacht-building industries, such as Missouri and Rhode Island, exempt the majority of yacht purchases from their sales and use taxes (SUTs). However, as noted in the accompanying figure, tax policies in Washington and Florida-which are considered to be competitors with California-generally require that vessels used in state waters be subject to the use tax. Regarding specific provisions and exemptions, some in Florida and Washington are less rigid than in California, while others are more rigid. For example:

  • Washington requires that their residents pay use taxes on a vessel when it is brought into the state, regardless of how long it has been kept out of state after its purchase. Under Chapter 226, California exempts vessels that have been kept out of local waters for more than one year. Florida requires use taxes be paid on vessels brought into its waters unless the owner shows usage in other states or U.S. territories for 6 months or longer.

  • In Florida, yachts are subject only to the statewide SUT rate of 6 percent, with local add-on sales taxes applying to just the first $5,000 of a vessel’s value. In contrast, both California and Washington require that the full combined state and local tax rate be paid.

  • Both Washington and Florida allow nonresidents to take possession of vessels and sail them in state waters for a limited period of time (45 days in Washington and 90 days in Florida) before leaving, and still avoid the SUT. By comparison, California has no such exemption.

  • In all three states, nonresidents can sail in local waters for up to six months without being subject to the use tax (in 2005, Washington rejected a one-year limit.

  • Finally, Florida law exempts from taxation vessels used in its waters, which are registered under a foreign flag. We understand that this exemption is used by a significant number of U.S. citizens who register their vessels tax free in offshore locations near Florida (such as the Cayman Islands).

International Tax Policies

Foreign tax treatment relating to the SUT on yachts and other commodities varies a great deal from country to country. With regard to countries neighboring the U.S., key provisions affecting potential U.S. yacht purchasers are as follows:

  • Vessels constructed and used in Mexican waters are subject to a value added tax. Foreign-flagged vessels cannot be sold within its waters. However, foreign vessels can be marketed in Mexican waters so long as the transaction occurs offshore. Vessels that are purchased offshore can be used in Mexican waters tax free for up to ten years.

  • In Canada, yachts are subject to provincial sales taxes and a federal Goods and Services Tax. However, sales made for immediate delivery to foreign destinations are exempt. Canada allows nonresident vessels to be used in its waters for up to six months per year and for an additional period for documented repair work.

Sales and Use Tax on Vessels: California, Washington, and Florida

California (October 2004 Through June 2006)

     Residents

·    Subject to full tax if brought into California within one year of purchase.

·    Exemption for repair, retrofit, and maintenance (RRM), subject to 25-hour maximum usage by owner during maintenance period.

Nonresidents

·    Subject to full tax if stored or used in California more than six months in first year.

·    Presumed taxable if subject to property tax or registration fees.

·    RRM exemption, subject to same 25-hour maximum.

Washington

Residents

·    Subject to full tax if brought into Washington at any time.

·    Limited exemption for maintenance and repair.

Nonresidents

·    Generally subject to full tax if purchased or used in Washington at any time, with two major exceptions:

—   Exempt if purchased outside Washington then brought in temporarily, meaning no             more than six months in any calendar year.

—   Exempt if vessel that is purchased in Washington is removed from state waters —             within 45 days.

·    Limited exemption for repair and maintenance.

Florida

Residents

·    Generally subject to statewide 6 percent tax unless used in other state or U.S. territory for at least 6 months prior to being brought into Florida waters. First $5,000 of purchase price subject to add-on local taxes.

·    Exemption for repairs.

Nonresidents

·    Subject to statewide tax if brought into Florida within six months of purchase and used in Florida for (1) more than 90 consecutive days or (2) more than six months in a calendar year.

·    Exempt if registered under “foreign flag.”

·    Exemption for vessels purchased in Florida and removed from waters within 90 days.

 

Previous Law

Prior to October 2004, any vessel, vehicle, or aircraft purchased out of state was generally subject to the SUT if it was either purchased in California or if it was brought into California within 90 days of its purchase date (the so-called “90-day test”). Property held outside of California for the initial 90-day period was presumed to have been purchased for out-of-state use, and thus was exempt from taxation. In addition, if the property was brought into California before the 90-day period was up, it could still be exempt if it was subsequently used and stored outside of California at least one-half of the time during the six-month period immediately following its initial entry into the state (the so-called “principal-use test”).

Over time, a growing number of purchasers-particularly of yachts and recreational vehicles (RVs)-used the 90-day test to claim the out-of-state usage exemption. In the case of vessels, this often involved taking possession more than three miles offshore, sailing the vessel directly to Ensenada or other sites near the U.S. border, and then storing it for 90 days or more before returning to California. In the case of RVs, it often involved taking possession in Arizona, Nevada, or Oregon, then using or storing the vehicle outside of California for at least 90 days before returning to the state. The enactment of Chapter 226 was in response to concerns about growing usage of this exemption and the belief that this involved assets that would subsequently be used on an ongoing basis in California instead of outside of the state.

Chapter 226

General Provisions. Under the act, vessels, vehicles, or aircraft purchased by California residents between October 1, 2004 and June 30, 2006, are subject to the use tax if the property is brought into California within one-year after its purchase (the so-called “one-year test”). Nonresidents can bring the property into California within the first year of purchase, but to be exempt from taxation they are required to store or use the property outside the state more than six months during the first year. The measure also establishes a presumption that any vessel, vehicle, or aircraft purchased by a resident or nonresident outside California is for use in this state if the property is subject to California registration or property taxes in the first twelve months of ownership. This presumption can be overturned with documentation of purchase, registration, and usage outside the state.

Repair, Retrofit, or Modification Exemptions. Under Chapter 226, aircraft or vessels brought into California within the first 12 months for repair, retrofit, or modification (RRM) are not subject to the use tax, if the flying or sailing time logged by the owner (or the agent of the owner) during the RRM period is 25 hours or less. This 25-hour limit does not apply to travel time needed to leave the state after the repairs or modifications are completed.

Other Exemptions Available to Buyers of Vessels, Vehicles, and Aircraft

In order to assess the impacts of changes to the out-of-state usage exemption, it is important to understand both the frequency with which it is used, as well as other exemptions that are available to buyers of vessels, vehicles, and aircraft. Altogether, there are 13 exemptions in the use tax law, ranging from purchases between family members to transfers between related businesses. However, in addition to the exemption for out-of-state usage (the subject of Chapter 226), there are three other exemptions of major relevance to purchasers of vessels, vehicles, and aircraft. These are the exemptions for (1) commercial fishing, (2) interstate commerce, and (3) being a common carrier. The key provisions of these three exemptions are highlighted in Figure 2.

 

Figure 2

Other Key Exemptions Used by Buyers of
Vessels, Vehicles, and Aircraft

 

»   Commercial Deep Sea Fishing

·  Provided for vessels principally used outside the three-mile territorial
waters of California.

·  Numerous requirements to satisfy exemption, including minimum
revenues, logs, fishing tags, and photographs showing rigging.

»   Interstate and Foreign Commerce

·  Provided for vessels, vehicles, or aircraft which are engaged in
interstate commerce activities.

·  Examples include charters or sight-seeing tours involving stops in
non-California sites.

»   Common Carrier

·  Provided for aircraft used as a “common carrier” of passengers or cargo during the first 12 months of operational use.

·  Includes aircraft used for charters or in business.

·  Numerous requirements, including Federal Aviation Administration
registration documents, summaries of each flight in first 12 months of operations, maintenance logs, and minimum revenues from
activities.

 

Prevalence of Exemption Usage

Figure 3 shows the distribution of exemptions granted over the past five years for out-of-state usage, commercial fishing, being a common carrier, and interstate commerce. It shows that the out-of-state usage exemption accounted for:

Can Impacts from Chapter 226 Be Avoided?

One question related to Chapter 226 and its impacts is whether purchasers, no longer qualifying for the out-of-state usage exemption, can find other means to avoid the use tax. If this were to occur frequently, the added revenue from the limits placed on the out-of-state usage exemption might be largely or even entirely negated. This can occur through two avenues-(1) the use of an alternative exemption or (2) utilizing certain other provisions of the tax law, such as changing the organizational form of a business.

Use of an Alternative Exemption

This avenue involves a taxpayer substituting the use of the out-of-state exemption for one of the other exemptions allowed for in the use tax and noted above.

Aircraft. Based on our review, we conclude there definitely is potential for such substitution to occur in aviation-related purchases, where many of the larger general aviation aircraft already qualify for more than one exemption. For example, an aircraft purchased by a multiregional company may have been exempted from the California use tax under the out-of-state usage test, but may also have qualified for the interstate commerce exemption (to the extent it was being used to transport company employees to out-of-state destinations) and/or common carrier exemption (to the extent it was being used in charter flights). Board staff report that they have received additional claims for interstate commerce and common carrier exemptions since the enactment of Chapter 226.

Vessels and Vehicles. The opportunities for purchasers of private vessels and vehicles are more limited than for aircraft, partly because of the stringent requirements needed to qualify for these alternative exemptions. For example, in order to receive the commercial fishing exemption, owners must provide substantial evidence of commercial fishing activities, including global positioning satellite (GPS) readings to establish that the activities took place in international waters, income tax returns showing profits from fishing activities, and photographs of the vessel showing that it is equipped for commercial fishing activities.

Other Options

Beyond claiming allowable exemptions other than for out-of-state usage, buyers in some circumstances have other options to minimize or avoid the impact of Chapter 226. For example, residents of California could form an out-of-state corporation for the purpose of purchasing a vessel, vehicle, or aircraft. The property involved would then be subject to less stringent nonresident tests. It is our understanding that these alternative options are used less extensively than exemptions as a means of avoiding use taxes, as they can involve significant expenses and a variety of legal issues.

What Was the Anticipated Impact of Chapter 226?

By lengthening the time that purchasers need to keep vessels, vehicles, and aircraft out of state in order to fulfill the requirements for an out-of-state usage exemption, Chapter 226 was expected to result in fewer exempt sales and an increase in SUT revenues to California. At the same time, however, industry representatives asserted that the law changes would have negative impacts on California business activities and profitability. These concerns were most notable with respect to the yachting industry, where it was argued that Californian’s would be put at a competitive economic disadvantage with those in other yachting regions, such as the northwest and Florida. Given these concerns, our analysis below focuses first and foremost on the impacts of Chapter 226 on the yachting industry. We then turn to discussions of the measure’s impacts on vehicles (mostly RVs) and aircraft.

Economic and Fiscal Effects Involving Vessels

California is home to roughly one million boats, yachts, and other vessels, making it the third largest boating state in the nation behind Florida and Michigan. This total includes about 250,000 private watercraft (such as jet skis), 714,000 boats registered with DMV, and 26,000 vessels documented with the U.S. Coast Guard. While in theory, the out-of-state usage exemption could apply to any vessel, as a practical matter, it applies mostly to a subset of the 26,000 vessels documented by the U.S. Coast Guard. Vessels less than 26 feet are not very good candidates for offshore purchases because of the cost, time, and effort needed to complete such a transaction. According to maritime attorneys we spoke to, the threshold price level where offshore transactions made sense was roughly $100,000 under the 90-day test, or about the price of a typical three-year-old 30-foot yacht. The level is now about $500,000 under the one-year test (about the price of a typical three-year-old 45-foot yacht).

As indicated in Figure 4, prices of yachts for sale in California in the 25-to-35 foot range average about $70,000 ($115,000 for yachts less than five years old). The average price rises up to $615,000 for vessels in the 55 to 65 foot range ($1.1 million for those less than five years old). At the very high end, “mega-yachts” can easily run into the tens of millions of dollars. The figure also shows that, not surprisingly, the majority of yachts on the market are in the 25-foot to 45-foot range, with a relatively small proportion of yachts in excess of 65 feet.

The comparatively small number of high-end yachts on the market has significant implications for the potential economic and fiscal effects of Chapter 226. Even if buyers of high-end yachts have the resources and mobility to keep their yachts out of state long enough to meet the extended one-year test, they represent only a small share of the total yacht market.

For these reasons, the state is likely to gain substantial revenues from Chapter 226 even if it results in a loss of some business activity associated with the operation of high-end yachts.

Industries Affected

California has a large number of businesses involved directly or indirectly in yachting-related activity in California. These include boat dealers, yacht brokers, marina operators, vessel repair facilities, lenders, and insurance providers. The state also has a significant number of businesses involved in parts manufacturing, boat design, and building. While the state has some facilities involved in yacht building, it is not one of the major locations of such activity. California’s largest shipyard (National Steel and Shipbuilding in the San Diego area) is involved in the building of large commercial and naval vessels.

The industries with potentially the greatest exposure to impacts arising from Chapter 226 would be those that are most dependent on local sales and operations, such as brokers, dealers, and lenders. Boat builders, designers, and parts manufacturers are less likely to be affected because their markets are primarily nationwide and worldwide in scope. Some types of companies, such as vessel repair facilities, fall somewhere in between, in that they could serve both local and national (or in some cases international) markets.

Potential Impacts

By extending the period that purchasers must keep vessels out of state to avoid taxation, Chapter 226 raises the after-tax cost of purchasing a vessel for those who would otherwise have taken offshore possession. This cost increase would be the lesser of the added expense of paying the SUT or the value of the added time and other costs needed to keep the vessel out of California to meet the one-year test. The impacts of this change on governmental revenues and economic activity would depend on how prospective buyers reacted to the after-tax price increase.

How Might Individuals Respond?

The potential range of impacts on individuals from Chapter 226 can be demonstrated using a hypothetical example. In this example, we assume that a California resident plans to make an offshore brokered purchase of a 50-foot yacht costing $750,000. Following the 90-day period, the buyer then plans to bring the vessel back into California for permanent use and storage. The buyer also plans to invest about $75,000 in upgrades and renovations undertaken in California within the first year. The yacht is assumed to be used roughly two-to-three days per month during the first year after its purchase, incurring normal operating costs for fuel and maintenance. Finally, we assume a combined state and local SUT rate of 8 percent.

Under Chapter 226, this buyer can no longer use the 90-day test, and thus would be faced with four basic options:

Figure 5

Illustrative Effects of Chapter 226 on a
Prospective Yacht Purchase
a

(In Thousands)

 

Effect on the
Sales and Use Taxes

 

Effect on
Business Activity

 

First Year

Ongoing

 

First Year

Ongoing

Option A—Purchase original vessel in state

$60.6

 

$15.6

Option B—Purchase smaller vessel in state

55.3

-$0.2

 

14.3

-$5.7

Option C—Meet one-year test

-4.7

 

-121.9

Option D—Cancel purchase

-4.7

-2.3

 

-214.9

-62.6

 

a  Assumes $750,000 yacht purchased through a broker and one-time renovations equal to 10 percent of purchase price. Includes one-time expenses associated with legal and closing costs, as well as
ongoing expenditures for fuel, marina storage, and other operational expenses. Also assumes
8 percent combined state-local sales and use tax rate, applied to the purchase price and the taxable portion of renovation and operational expenditures.

 

The above illustrates how individuals might respond to Chapter 226. Next, we consider how these responses-in aggregate-might affect the state’s revenue and economy. After that, we discuss available evidence on these issues.

So, What Might the Aggregate Impact Be?

The aggregate impact of Chapter 226 would depend on the mix of these responses in California. At one extreme, if the great majority of buyers simply went ahead and purchased the vessel in California, then the measure would result in a large increase in revenues and a modest increase in economic activity. At the other extreme, if the main effect was a cancellation of buyer plans, then Chapter 226 would result in less revenues and economic activity.

The actual mix of reactions would depend on such factors as the sensitivity of buyers and sellers to changes in after-tax vessel prices, and the mobility of buyers-that is, their ability to shift purchases and usage of a vessel from California to other regions.

Although economists generally believe that demand for yachts and other luxury goods is “price elastic” (that is, sensitive to after-tax price changes), historical experience does not provide a clear picture of the exact degree of this price sensitivity. For instance, there is considerable dispute over how much spending on yachts and other luxury goods was affected by the 10 percent luxury tax imposed by the federal government in the early 1990s. At the time, many industry observers asserted that the luxury tax was sharply depressing spending on the affected items, and as a result, it was raising much less revenue than anticipated. However, a retrospective study by the Joint Tax Committee (JTC) of the U.S. Congress found that luxury tax collections attributable to yacht sales were actually greater than expected. The JTC was not, however, able to isolate the exact reason for the greater-than-expected level of collections-for example, whether it was due to smaller-than-expected behavioral responses. Other studies similarly concluded that it was not possible to disentangle the behavioral effects of the law change from other factors (such as changing wealth and income levels) affecting the estimate.

While historical experience does not provide a clear guide as to the specific aggregate effects of Chapter 226, the illustrative effects shown in Figure 5 do demonstrate a couple of important points about the probable impact of the measure:

What Is the Evidence So Far?

Based on the data available so far, it appears that the measure has resulted in major declines in the out-of-state usage exemption, an increase in sales subject to California’s SUT, and thus a roughly $20 million annual increase in SUT receipts from vessel-related purchases. The measure may have also reduced business activity and sales receipts in the yacht-related industries in the state relative to what would have otherwise occurred. However, there is no evidence that these reductions have been particularly large.

Retail Sales of Boat Dealers

Figure 6 shows BOE data on sales of licensed boat dealers, as well as the breakout between in-state (and thus taxable) and out-of-state (and thus tax-exempt) purchases. The data include sales of all sizes of vessels sold through dealers, including smaller craft that would not be candidates for offshore delivery, as well as boating equipment and supplies sold through their outlets. Consequently, it is a far-from-perfect measure of the high-end yacht sales potentially affected by Chapter 226. However, it is at least a reasonable indicator, in that it includes a significant number of dealers selling high-end yachts. The figure shows:

Use Taxes From Brokered Transactions

As indicated earlier, most large yachts are “brokered” sales rather than dealer sales. These transactions are potentially subject to the use tax. Information provided by BOE on use tax revenues, though preliminary, shows two striking trends.

Use Tax Exemption Claims Down. As shown in Figure 7, BOE granted a total of 1,150 out-of-state usage exemptions during the five quarterly periods preceding the operative date of Chapter 226. In the five quarterly periods since the measure’s implementation, the number of claims filed under the one-year test was just 209, a drop of over 80 percent.

Use Tax Collections Up. Figure 8 shows use tax collections on vessels from the third quarter of 2002 through the fourth quarter of 2005. The figure shows a sharp increase in quarterly collections beginning in the latter part of 2005, which we believe is related to the fewer exemption claims and relatively steady level of sales occurring after the operative date of Chapter 226. As noted earlier, payments often do not occur until several months after the actual sale, due to the time lags associated with identification and notification of the taxpayer by BOE. As the figure shows, quarterly payments reached about $5 million by the end of 2005, more than twice the quarterly level one year earlier. This quarterly increase translates into an annual gain of about $10 million. Beyond this, we expect additional use tax receipts of up to $5 million associated with audits and delayed payments.

Other Indicators

Other economic indicators we examined provide a somewhat mixed picture regarding activity in California’s yachting industry. In no cases, however, do the indicators reveal a major reduction in business. For example:

In interpreting these developments, it is important to remember the difficulty in separating out the impacts on the yachting industry of law changes such as Chapter 226 from other factors like changes in the economy. As a result, we would stress that the generally positive sales and related indicators involving the yachting industry do not imply that Chapter 226 had no adverse impacts on it. Such adverse impacts may have been masked, for example, by the positive effects of rising wealth and income levels in the economy during 2005. It may well be the case that yacht-related industries, though generally healthy, were less robust than they would have been had Chapter 226 not been enacted. The various indictors cited above, however, suggest that any such adverse effects have not been particularly large.

Feedback From Industry Representatives

In conjunction with our review of the economic, tax, and related indicators discussed above, we also contacted a number of individuals involved in various aspects of the yachting industry-particularly in Southern California. These included maritime attorneys, brokers, and representatives of dealers, lenders, and shipyard facilities. Individual responses regarding the perceived impact of Chapter 226 on the California yachting industry varied significantly, with some indicating only mild adverse effects and others indicating that the negative impacts have been substantial. Despite the diversity of responses, however, we found some recurring themes.

Consensus View-Business Generally Healthy in 2005 . . . Although many representatives expressed serious concerns about the negative impacts of Chapter 226, the majority of individuals we spoke to indicated that their own business had been reasonably good and that overall business conditions were generally positive in the industry during 2005. There were some notable exceptions to this view among yacht dealers, but in most cases, the perception was that business conditions were generally upbeat during the past year.

. . . But Not As Good As It Could Have Been. Several individuals indicated that, while business in California was reasonably strong, the state was nevertheless being adversely affected by the law change. In particular, there was a sense that California is losing market share to Florida and Washington. The concerns shared were mostly about high-end business, where buyers are quite mobile geographically and willing to purchase and use yachts in a variety of different regions.

Some Cooling Effect As June 30, 2006 Approaches. Although we did not hear of many specific examples of buyers postponing purchases in anticipation of the June 30, 2006 sunset date, some brokers indicated that, as the date approaches, there is increasing talk by prospective buyers about “going slow” in anticipation of the return to the 90-day test.

Ship and Repair Facilities Business Mixed. One of the key concerns voiced by industry representatives is that Chapter 226 is having adverse impacts on California’s ship yard and repair facilities. The concern has been that these facilities were already facing stiff competition from lower-cost yards in Mexico, and that the new law would make them even more vulnerable. This would occur to the extent that Chapter 226 reduced California sales or resulted in vessels being kept out of state longer to meet the one-year test. This is because repairs and renovations tend to be made most frequently in the period immediately following a vessel’s purchase.

The representatives we contacted from major boat repair facilities in Southern California indicated that their business was generally positive in 2005, with revenues up, in some cases by more than 10 percent between 2004 and 2005. At the same time, they indicated that some of their growth was from unusually large projects, and that some segments of their business may have been adversely impacted by Chapter 226.

What Is the Bottom Line?

Based on various tax-related sales data, discussions with industry representatives, and a variety of other indicators, we conclude that:

Economic and Fiscal Effects Involving Vehicles

The second major product category affected by Chapter 226 is vehicles. Although this category includes trucks, buses, and automobiles, the main impact focus of the measure is on sales of RVs. According to the 2002 Economic Census of the United States, there were 326 retail RV dealers in California, accounting for $2.1 billion in sales, 5,140 workers, and $200 million in wages (each roughly 14 percent of the national total for the industry). The state also has 10 firms and over 2,600 employees involved in the manufacture of motor homes and parts, including the headquarters of the second largest RV manufacturer in the nation.

The average cost for new motor homes is around $180,000, with luxury models generally running in the $300,000 to $500,000 range, and a few selling for more than $1 million.

According to BOE data, about 28 percent of the dollar value of RV sales by California dealers during the five quarterly periods preceding the operative date of Chapter 226 were “interstate sales,” largely due to the out-of-state usage exemption.

Potential Effects

In theory, Chapter 226 would have the same general types of effects on the RV market as on the yachting market in California. The longer one-year test period raises the cost of purchasing an RV to those prospective buyers that would have otherwise fulfilled the 90-day test and thereby been granted an exemption from the California SUT. The higher cost facing buyers would be somewhat less than the full sales tax amount, after taking into account the real and imputed costs associated with out-of-state transactions (including storage fees).

The increased after-tax costs would likely result in some decreases in California sales, as well as the substitution toward less-expensive models. The sales reductions would have ripple effects on other businesses, such as insurance, finance, repairs, and services. However, we would not expect the effects on California RV-related manufacturers to be particularly large, since their markets are national in scope.

The Evidence So Far

Figure 10 provides BOE data on retail sales of California RV dealers. It shows that:

A key question is the extent to which the 2005 slowdown in RV sales was attributable to Chapter 226 versus other economic factors. While it is not possible to allocate precisely the sales decline to specific factors, it appears that the great majority of the slowdown is related to broad economic circumstances, as opposed to Chapter 226. RV sales have historically been heavily influenced by fuel costs, interest rates, and consumer confidence levels, and there were negative developments in all these areas in 2005. Fuel prices soared, interest rates rose significantly, and consumer confidence dipped in the middle of the year.

These developments led to a major slowdown in motor home sales across the nation. The U.S. wholesale shipments of motor homes to dealers fell by more than 10 percent in 2005, reflecting particularly large declines in the latter half of the year. As shown in Figure 11, employment associated with RV dealers slowed by about the same pace nationally as in California in 2005. In short, the slowdown in California RV sales appears to be consistent with national trends, suggesting that the role played by Chapter 226 was generally modest during this period.

 

Estimated Impact on RV-Related Taxes

Taking into account the sharp decline in out-of-state usage exemptions and our assessment that the impact of the law change on overall vehicle sales was fairly limited, we estimate that Chapter 226 resulted in a roughly $25 million increase in SUT revenues in 2005-06.

Economic and Fiscal Effects Involving Aircraft

The third broad category of transactions affected by Chapter 226 is aircraft. Virtually all of the large commercial aircraft operated by scheduled airliners and cargo carriers are exempt from the SUT under the common carrier and interstate commerce exemptions. Thus, the potential effects of Chapter 226 would be limited mainly to the general aviation segment.

Background on General Aviation In California

About 75,000 certificated private pilots, 38,000 registered general aviation aircraft, and 224 general aviation airports are located in California. In addition, the state has 30 commercial service airports which provide both scheduled passenger and general aviation services. There are also a large number of businesses related to the general aviation industry, including lending, insurance, flight training, aircraft fuel, repair, and maintenance.

California has a significant number of businesses involved in the design and production of aircraft parts, navigation equipment, and other avionics. However, there is not a significant presence within California of companies involved in the production of general aviation aircraft.

Business Related Activity Accounts for Majority of General Aviation Sales. There has been a general decline in the recreational portion of the aviation industry over the past 30 years. In addition, there has been more recent growth in the business-related segment, where prices of turboprops and jets can easily run in excess of $10 million (perhaps 100 times the value of a typical single-engine recreational aircraft).

Taxability of Sales. Historically, the majority of business-related aircraft have been exempt from California’s SUT. This is because they are often used to transport employees or officers to destinations between states (making them eligible for the interstate commerce exemption) or are purchased under lease-back arrangements with charter companies (making them eligible for common carrier exemptions). According to BOE, over 75 percent of all aircraft sales through California dealers during the five quarterly periods preceding the operative date of Chapter 226 were exempt from the SUT.

Economic and Fiscal Impacts Of Chapter 226

Given the large proportion of aircraft sales that qualify for the common carrier and interstate commerce exemptions, the potential effect of Chapter 226 would be inherently less for aircraft than for yachts and RVs.

As shown in Figure 12, total sales by California aircraft dealers rose slightly during the quarters following the implementation of the new law, and the share of exempt sales remained constant, near 75 percent. Preliminary data suggest that there were almost no increases in aircraft-related use tax collections following the law change. Thus, the associated revenue gains due to Chapter 226 are negligible.

Summary of Overall Fiscal Effects

Taking into account the economic and revenue impacts discussed above for vessels, vehicles, and aircraft, we estimate that the combined impact of Chapter 226 on SUT revenues is a revenue increase of about $45 million in 2005-06. The General Fund share of this total is about $28 million, with the remaining portion going to state special funds and localities. These amounts are modestly less than the original estimates of the Chapter 226 fiscal impact, which were $55 million for all funds, and $35 million for the General Fund. This estimation difference is related to revenues from aircraft sales. Specifically, BOE had anticipated that $11 million in additional revenues would be collected from the SUT on aircraft, but the initial data show no identifiable increase from this category.

Legislative Issues and Considerations

There are several policy and technical issues related to Chapter 226 that the Legislature will need to consider as it evaluates the Governor’s proposal to extend the measure for one additional year. These key questions are discussed below.

Which Taxability Test Is More Appropriate From a Tax Policy Perspective?

What Is the Underlying Objective? The basic principle for determining the application of the use tax is whether the asset is being purchased for use in California. This determination can be a complicated issue for certain vessels, vehicles, and aircraft, which have long lives, are mobile, and thus may be used in numerous places over their lifetimes. While, in theory, use taxes could be apportioned to various different taxing jurisdictions over time based on where the assets are used, such a process would, in practice, be virtually impossible to administer and enforce by the state’s taxing agencies.

What Approach Makes Sense in Practice? In view of these complications, California and other states have adopted tests, which are rough approximations for determining whether property that is being purchased is, in fact, for use in California. As noted earlier in this report, prior to October 2004, California used the so-called 90-day test, meaning that the purchased item was presumed to be for usage in California unless it was kept outside the state for at least 90 days after its acquisition. Under Chapter 226, the test period was temporarily extended to one year. The basic tax policy question regarding Chapter 226 is whether the one-year test is a more appropriate measure for determining usage than the 90-day test. Our review suggests that:

Has the Longer Test Seriously Harmed California Industries?

Even if the one-year test is more appropriate from a tax policy perspective, the question remains as to whether the change from a 90-day test to a one-year test has had an unduly harsh impact on the industries affected. As we reported above, it is likely that the extended one-year test has had some adverse effects on California’s yachting and RV industries. In instances where the state is competing with other states and countries for business, the Chapter 226 changes could also have adverse effects on California’s competitiveness. The initial data we have observed, however, suggest that these effects have not been particularly large.

Are There Provisions That Should Be Changed?

If the Legislature chooses to postpone or eliminate the sunset date for Chapter 226, we believe that there are actions that it could take which would (1) address some of the concerns raised by the affected industries and (2) not weaken the basic intent of Chapter 226 regarding application of the use tax to vessels, vehicles, and aircraft. These actions include the following:

Does a One-Year Extension of Chapter 226 Make Sense?

Finally, the Governor has proposed that Chapter 226’s provisions be extended for one year. We believe that it would be preferable to permanently extend the key provisions of Chapter 226. The year-to-year extension of this tax law change would likely create behavioral incentives having negative consequences for both the industries involved and the state. As indicated above, there is some evidence that the July 2006 sunset date is starting to encourage the postponement of buying plans (as some prospective customers wait for the potential return of the 90-day test). This type of behavioral effect would likely continue if the expectation is that the one-year test will be in effect for just one additional year. We believe it would be preferable to settle the policy issues now and put in place a permanent set of standards so that buyers and sellers will know what the “ground rules” will be in the future.

 

Acknowledgments

This report was prepared by Brad Williams, with contributions from David Vasché and Mark Ibele, and data analysis by Robert Ingenito. The Legislative Analyst's Office (LAO) is a nonpartisan office which provides fiscal and policy information and advice to the Legislature.

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