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#18 of 19 Re: PR new car Excise tax lingo in Spanish [tonyv1] by tonyv1

Sep 25, 2007 (7:28 am)

Replying to: tonyv1 (Sep 19, 2007 7:37 am)

A friend suggested I offer a basic Spanish translation for asking about the new car excise tax if you call the Puerto Tax Dept. at 787-774-1474 and 787-774-1463
 
The tax itself is called el arbitrio "arh-bee-tree-oh."
 
Therefore, to ask the tax on a new 2007 (dos mil siete) or 2008 (dos mil ocho) model you could say.
 
"Buenos dias. Cuanto es el arbitrio del dos mil siete auto del modelo Dodge Caravan
Ese Eckees Teh (SXT) , por favor?"
 
Don't forget "Gracias" after you get an answer.
 
It's very important to be extra polite in the Spanish language, especially if you are butchering the pronunciation.
 
After receiving my new 2007 Caravan SXT, I asked the dealer how he and I avoided paying the arbitrio, which I was told would be over $6K. He told me that as soon as he received new stock of 2008 Caravans, the 2007 technically became last year's model and exempt, at his option, from the excise tax, although it could still be "liquidated" as new with the full factory warranty.
 
So if you can wait till the usual Sept/Oct model turnover, that could be your best chance to avoid the new car excise tax.
 
The dealer also said shipping a used car to PR should not have to pay the new car excise tax, but may still have to pay a host of shipping, insurance and customs luxury taxes that can vary greatly from model to model.

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#19 of 19 Vehicle Taxes? by mudkow60

Feb 23, 2013 (9:53 am)