When does Sales Tax have to be paid?

Sales tax is due on a vehicle each time the title is transferred to a new person in exchange for money or other consideration (parts, work, or more). Important: Wyoming law requires that sales tax must be paid on a vehicle within 60 days of the date of purchase . The 60 days includes weekends and holidays.

If the sales tax is not paid within 60 days, the following charges apply:

- a "civil fee" of $25

- interest at 1% per month the payment is overdue, commencing on the 66th day. 

- at 10 days past the due date, the "civil fees" becomes: $25 or 10%, whichever is higher.

The 60 day period will begin running from the date on the invoice if the vehicle is purchased from a dealer, or the on a bill of sale or when the title was notarized if the vehicle is purchased from an individual.

For example, if a person purchases a vehicle for $20,000, and pays the sales tax on the 76th day, they would pay:

Sales Tax (5%)                  $1,000

Civil Fee (10% of $1,000)  $100

Interest (1% of $1,000)        $10

      Total =                           $1,110

What do I have to pay sales tax on?

The vehicle sales price is the cash price of the vehicle including any up charges that increase the vehicle price. Taxable up charges include accessories, document fees, transportation fees, anti-theft devices, and more. The sales tax rate is always the rate charged in the purchaser's county of residence, as indicated by the address on the title. If the purchase was made out of state, the tax rate will be determined by the purchaser's county residence.  For example, if someone from Converse County; 5% purchases a vehicle in Denver (7%), the purchaser would pay 5%.

Important: Wyoming law requires that a bill of sale must be presented to pay sales tax when a vehicle is purchased from a dealer. When a vehicle is purchased from an individual, no bill of sale is required. 

The amount of sales tax due depends on:

- Sales price of the vehicle, and

- The applicable sales tax rate.

What if I purchase a vehicle out of state?

Normally, dealers will not collect sales tax from non-residents on vehicle sales. So, if you purchase a vehicle in Denver, they will usually not collect sales tax, and you will pay 5% use tax (if a Converse County resident) at the Treasurer's Office. If a dealer does collect sales tax, the State of Wyoming will give you credit towards the use tax you owe. In other words, if you pay 5% sales tax in Michigan, Wyoming will credit that payment towards the 5% use tax you owe in Wyoming, and you won't pay any tax as long as you can provide a receipt for the tax you paid. 

If you pay 7% sales tax in another state, the State of Wyoming will credit that 7% towards the 5% you owe, and again you will owe no sales or use tax in Wyoming. However, the state will not issue a refund for the additional 2% collected by the other state. If you pay 4% sales tax in another state, Wyoming will credit the 4% towards the 5% owed, and the Treasurer's Office will collect an additional 1% tax.

If you finance the sales tax with your vehicle payment, the auto dealer must remit the entire amount of the sales tax collected before you can register your vehicle. Normally, dealers send it directly to the Treasurer's Office and you receive a receipt in the mail. It is the purchaser's responsibility to ensure that the dealer pays the sales tax to the Treasurer's Office.