Utah bill of sale - seller responsibility?

Johnny Quest

Web Wheeler
Location
West Jordan
Anyone else received one of these? I sold the truck in question a year or so ago, and this is now the 2nd request for this info. My take is that they’re trying to pin the buyer for not paying full taxes on the truck. I don't know the guy, but I ain’t no snitch either. I ignored the first request, but they’re being pretty adamant.

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Tonkaman

Well-Known Member
Location
West Jordan
Anyone else received one of these? I sold the truck in question a year or so ago, and this is now the 2nd request for this info. My take is that they’re trying to pin the buyer for not paying full taxes on the truck. I don't know the guy, but I ain’t no snitch either. I ignored the first request, but they’re being pretty adamant.

View attachment 176092
Never seen that before.

That explains how the state found out I under paid sales tax on my van though. That snitch…
 

Kevin B.

Not often wrong. Never quite right.
Moderator
Location
Stinkwater
Anyone else received one of these? I sold the truck in question a year or so ago, and this is now the 2nd request for this info. My take is that they’re trying to pin the buyer for not paying full taxes on the truck. I don't know the guy, but I ain’t no snitch either. I ignored the first request, but they’re being pretty adamant.

View attachment 176092
I haven't heard anything about a bill of sale being required. But I also think that if snitching gets the Utah State Tax Commission out of my mailbox, I'm gonna snitch.
 

Herzog

somewhat damaged
Admin
Location
Wydaho
Pay close attention to the terminology in that letter.

I would respond politely stating that no records have been kept as the title signing acts as the bill of sale and no bill of sale is legally required. (At least that’s how I remember it in Utah. Has any legislation recently passed that changes this fact?)

Responding to the letter is considered remaining in good faith. State that you do not have the information they are “requesting” (ie, you are not obligated by law). I would personally tell them to get stuffed.

*not legal advice, I’m not a lawyer*
 
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The_Lobbster

Well-Known Member
I'm assuming you got title jumped though? If you sold it a year ago, why are they just now trying to find info?

Utah titles are nice though because they have the spot for the sale price right on the back. The DMV told me that you don't need an external bos due to having that right on it. I always conveniently fill that out in pen for the buyer so they can't fudge the numbers and cause a snafu like you're experiencing.

My dad got title jumped, and he was facing a bit of legal trouble for it, as the original seller. I believe state law requires you to make sure the title is signed into somebody elses name, it can't be left open. I flat out refuse to sign the sellers portion unless the buyer has filled out all their info, and signed it as well.
 
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TurboMinivan

Still plays with cars
Location
Lehi, UT
My take is that they’re trying to pin the buyer for not paying full taxes on the truck.

I'm assuming you got title jumped though? If you sold it a year ago, why are they just now trying to find info?

Curiosity being what it is, I decided to run a title check on the VIN in question. You know, just for fun.

It looks like the OP registered the truck on 8/10/2021 and renewed the registration the following July. After that, a purchase was reported on 9/11/2023 and a new title (and presumably also a new registration) was issued to a Koosharem address on 9/21/2023. This must have been our friend Emil.

Here's where it gets fun (IMO): just a few months later on 2/8/2024 another new purchase was reported. This new owner also registered the truck in Koosharem. This person seems to be using the truck, because they took it in to LHM Dodge for an oil change and tire rotation on 8/1/2024 (at 182,220 miles).

Did Emil do something shady here?
 

rholbrook

Well-Known Member
Location
Kaysville, Ut
The State Tax Commission is hitting dealers hard right now. Any trailer we sale we have to basically prove that it when out of state, especially if it was to an LLC in Montana. We have to get all documents related to an out of state sale, including copy of the drivers license of the person picking it up, copy of the form of payment proving that it is an out of state check and then we have to provide that the Tax Commission. I asked the officer assigned to us if they were going after these guys and he told me yes and not to relay that message on. He said they have one guy that gets a new Porsche about every few months and they will be going after him for around $6M in taxes and penalties. If it is going to spend its days on Utah roads, they need to pay Utah taxes on it. Exact words from him and they have hired a staff to do all the tracking on these people. A friend told me to tell you that if you register in Montana, do not buy the vehicle or trailer in the great State of Utah. We had to go pull the records of sales for about 50 deals in 2022 about 2 months ago. I personally believe that they are going back to all the sales tax exempt forms that the buyer has to fill sign and looking for LLCs. About 1/3 of our sales are out of state. Buy it in Idaho or somewhere else where that paperwork never comes in to Utah. Just passing that along. The LLC attorney's in MT do tell you what to say when you get pulled over but will they bail you out of the taxes, fees and penalties you will be charged when they finally catch up to you?
 

Herzog

somewhat damaged
Admin
Location
Wydaho
The State Tax Commission is hitting dealers hard right now. Any trailer we sale we have to basically prove that it when out of state, especially if it was to an LLC in Montana. We have to get all documents related to an out of state sale, including copy of the drivers license of the person picking it up, copy of the form of payment proving that it is an out of state check and then we have to provide that the Tax Commission. I asked the officer assigned to us if they were going after these guys and he told me yes and not to relay that message on. He said they have one guy that gets a new Porsche about every few months and they will be going after him for around $6M in taxes and penalties. If it is going to spend its days on Utah roads, they need to pay Utah taxes on it. Exact words from him and they have hired a staff to do all the tracking on these people. A friend told me to tell you that if you register in Montana, do not buy the vehicle or trailer in the great State of Utah. We had to go pull the records of sales for about 50 deals in 2022 about 2 months ago. I personally believe that they are going back to all the sales tax exempt forms that the buyer has to fill sign and looking for LLCs. About 1/3 of our sales are out of state. Buy it in Idaho or somewhere else where that paperwork never comes in to Utah. Just passing that along. The LLC attorney's in MT do tell you what to say when you get pulled over but will they bail you out of the taxes, fees and penalties you will be charged when they finally catch up to you?
The state using tax dollars to collect more tax dollars...
 

Johnny Quest

Web Wheeler
Location
West Jordan
Don’t believe we got title jumped, as I never Had the title; I still had a loan out on the truck when we sold it. We went to my bank, and finished the deal there. I believe they paid in full, and would assume they were sent the new title with their info at that time.
 

anderson750

I'm working on it Rose
Location
Price, Utah
The State Tax Commission is hitting dealers hard right now. Any trailer we sale we have to basically prove that it when out of state, especially if it was to an LLC in Montana. We have to get all documents related to an out of state sale, including copy of the drivers license of the person picking it up, copy of the form of payment proving that it is an out of state check and then we have to provide that the Tax Commission. I asked the officer assigned to us if they were going after these guys and he told me yes and not to relay that message on. He said they have one guy that gets a new Porsche about every few months and they will be going after him for around $6M in taxes and penalties. If it is going to spend its days on Utah roads, they need to pay Utah taxes on it. Exact words from him and they have hired a staff to do all the tracking on these people. A friend told me to tell you that if you register in Montana, do not buy the vehicle or trailer in the great State of Utah. We had to go pull the records of sales for about 50 deals in 2022 about 2 months ago. I personally believe that they are going back to all the sales tax exempt forms that the buyer has to fill sign and looking for LLCs. About 1/3 of our sales are out of state. Buy it in Idaho or somewhere else where that paperwork never comes in to Utah. Just passing that along. The LLC attorney's in MT do tell you what to say when you get pulled over but will they bail you out of the taxes, fees and penalties you will be charged when they finally catch up to you?
Can they track it if it was a private sale?
 
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