Senator McLachlan’s Car Property Tax Bill Approved by State Senate

A bill authored by State Senator Michael McLachlan (R-24) to address the problem of out-of-state vehicle registration passed the Senate. It was immediately transmitted to the House of Representatives for final approval.

Senator McLachlan submitted the Senate Bill 644 because of vehicles that are improperly registered in another state while being primarily housed and driven in Connecticut. He said such out-of-state registrations are frequently done in an effort to evade municipal property taxes.

“No one likes paying taxes, but property taxes are the primary source of funding for our local government. That includes fire departments, police departments, and education,” Sen. McLachlan said. “People who actively avoid their local tax responsibilities aren’t ‘smart.’ They aren’t just finding a way to ‘save money.’ The truth is they are thumbing their noses at the honest people who properly register their vehicle in Connecticut and pay the property taxes they owe. Those tax scofflaws are enjoying the municipal services their neighbors are paying for.”

Under the bill, if a municipal tax assessor determines that a taxable motor vehicle is registered out of state, he or she must make an effort to provide information on the out-of-state registration to the Department of Motor Vehicles. The DMV then must make an effort to provide the assessor with information he or she can use to add the vehicle to the grand list for tax assessment.

Sen. McLachlan said his bill is about providing fairness to the taxpayers who properly register their cars in Connecticut.

Sen. McLachlan represents the communities of Bethel, Danbury, New Fairfield, and Sherman