Would that I could challenge the rates here. The local branch of the
AACA had the attitude of Shhh! Don't make waves, they will raise the taxes
even higher!
I inquired some years ago about the source of the high tax rates on old
cars. It is a book kept in Raleigh, the state capitol. The book has no relation
to any of the guide books we use in the hobby. To challenge this tax rate or any
other (including what they have just taxed your home as being worth) one must
first file a petition and then hire a lawyer and go to Raleigh to present the
case to a tax appeal board. The lawyer must be qualified to do this. What this
all comes down to is an impossibility of challenging any tax rate set by the
politicians. They have successfully isolated themselves from any challenges.
The previous tax assessor owned an old car, and cut me some slack when I
protested, but he has retired and the new man will not consider any deviation
from the book used to "assess" the old cars. It would take a lot of $$$
for someone to mount a challenge, and they know this. This, coupled with
the well known attitude of North Carolinians to say, :"ahh, let's just pay it
and be quiet" has allowed them to have unlimited power over the ability to tax.
We may be the "home of the brave" but hardly the "land of the free"
anymore. The tax, incidentally, must be paid on all cars owned, even if they are
junkers hiding in the woods and have not seen the highway for forty years-- sad
but true-
best wishes, Ted
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