When I bought 1-26 #309 in Riverside County, it took a couple of years
for the previous owner to report the sale to them, then I got a bill,
then I started keeping it in L.A. County (hangar).

Mark, pay attention, there's a huge penalty for not paying, but if you
point out that you bought a GLIDER from a PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL (not an
aircraft dealer, or a business), the "sales tax & penalty" are waived
or do not apply (whatever the proper legalese is for this). You'll
get a questionaire from the assessor each and every year, in case you
overhaul the engine, add radios, "restore" something... I don't know
if you can claim depreciation for damage or repairs -- I commented on
the last questionaire that my ship needed recovering and paint...

Over the last three years, my bill has been $51.44, $51.41 and $40.01
-- go figure on the drop. I keep copies of the questionaire for
reference as it always asks when purchased and for how much. On the
stated value of $5500.00, that works out to about 1% tax. Another
good reason to fly a 1-26? (As if _I_ needed one!). I remarked on
the questionaire that "1-26 values have been falling..." I have NO
idea if this helped, but ten bucks is ten bucks (a pattern tow?).

ALSO: keep the TRAILER out of the equation!!! You're already paying
exobitant California "property" tax on your vehicles through DMV. For
those not familiar with CA politics, the recalled governor raised my
Honda Odyssey "propety tax" (DMV registration fees, etc.) from $229.00
per year to $497.00 on a 3 year old $33,000.00 minivan. That is only
one of the reasons I voted for Arnold despite wanting to see Davis
stew in his political juices for the full term, then really get run
out of Sacramento on a rail. Oops, that's bordering on politics --
really guys, I'm just trying to explain the taxes...

And you thought soaring avoided taxes because we use nature, don't
make noise and have pretty ships...

-Pete
#309