The House overwhelmingly backed legislation Thursday to
phase out property taxes on cars, known as the Birthday Tax
because it’s due on the owner’s birthday.
However, some
Democrats argued that the bill, which passed 133-39, would
amount to a tax increase on average Georgians who don’t use
dealers to buy cars.
Under the legislation that still needs Senate approval,
people who buy vehicles starting next year won’t pay
property taxes on those cars. They also wouldn’t pay a sales
tax they’d normally pay if they bought from a dealer. To
replace those taxes, all buyers will have to pay a fee of 7
percent, up to a maximum of $2,000, when they title their
vehicles.
Georgians who keep their present cars will still have to
pay the annual property taxes until they buy another one.
Currently, there is no sales tax on person-to-person, or
“casual” sales of cars, so the title fee will capture money
from those buyers.
House Motor Vehicles Chairman Tom Rice (R-Norcross) said
there are 900,000 person-to-person or “casual sales” of cars
and trucks each year in Georgia.
“This is going to be fair to every one of us who buys a
car,” Rice said.
Some Democrats agreed.
“This is more fair to more people,” said Rep. Mary
Margaret Oliver (D-Decatur)
Rice said the title fee will raise more than the current
system, providing extra money for local governments and $100
million to $150 million for a new state trauma care system.
House Minority Leader DuBose Porter (D-Dublin) said that
extra money would come from “average Georgians” who buy cars
from individuals, not dealers.
“How much money is this going to generate? A whole lot,”
Porter said. “Where is it going to come from? Regular
folks.
“This is a great deal if you’re going to buy a $150,000
Mercedes because all you’re going to do is pay the $2,000
(fee),” he said. “If old granddaddy wants to give his son a
pickup truck, he’s going to pay a tax.
“We’re creating a brand-new tax that’s going to generate
a heck of a lot of new money off of working folks in this
state.”
House Majority Leader Jerry Keen (R-St. Simons Island)
responded, “It is a tax increase for people who have been
doing their transactions under the table.”
