Letter to the editor: Taxes on leased vehicles

One of Pennsylvania’s best-kept secrets is a 9% tax on leased vehicles (in some counties it may be 10%).

Having leased three vehicles in the last five years, it wasn’t until I returned my Nissan Rogue to the dealership and received a final disposition fee of $395 plus a tax of 9% — a 6% sales tax and a 3% motor vehicle lease tax — or $430.55 total, that I checked into this.

I looked over the paperwork for my three leased vehicles, and all of it shows that a sales tax applied but nowhere does it show a percentage.

In my opinion, the politicians don’t want you to know you’re paying 9% or 10% in tax, and salesmen just give you a lease price and tell you a sales tax is added on. You assume it will be 6% and never question it. The 3% motor vehicle lease tax should be plainly visible on all lease agreements.

William C. Waldron

Penn Township, Westmoreland County