Railroad Forums 

  • How do railroads get taxed?

  • General discussion about railroad operations, related facilities, maps, and other resources.
General discussion about railroad operations, related facilities, maps, and other resources.

Moderator: Robert Paniagua

 #609101  by slashmaster
 
I'm trying to figure out how taxes work for railroads. Is it only by how much land they have? Or do they have to pay additional for each building or track wether it is used or not? Do thye have to pay taxes on each car and locomotive?
 #615611  by scharnhorst
 
I'm no expert on how taxes work on railroads but I can offer what I have picked up on bits and pices on the subject.

Railroads pay taxes on the property that they own. Some states like NY charge the same tax rate on the property weather there is rail on it or not there are no brakes on RR Property there. Other states slash there taxes if the property is abandoned with or with out the rail on it if the ROW still remains in the RR Name. But still a railroad can lease the rail they use if its owned by the county's or the state as well there for releveing them of paying taxes. There would be property taxes on buildings I they would vary from state to state on the taxes on them as there most often built on the ROW.

Most of the larger railroads lease the locomotives that they operate I would think that there is no tax on them unless they buy them out right. Smaller railroads tend to buy used locomotives and on occation new ones there for There would be a sales tax on them. Not all railroads own the cars that have Yes they may have the road name and reporting marks of the R.R. on them but they might still be owned by the bank or leaseing company.
 #715273  by Engineer Spike
 
All of this is public knowledge. Contact the local government or even the state revenue department.
I have heard that when a railroad buys new equipment, rather than leasing it, they often take delivery in the location with the lowest taxes.
 #722407  by rearedevice
 
Vermont and PA do not tax railroads and some other states as well. I assume they get taxed as utlities with a much lower tax on right of way then homes
 #722673  by Cowford
 
railroad equipment owners are also subject to state property taxes. I'm not familiar with the details, but owners keep records of how much time each car spends in each state for the purposes of apportioning tax throughout the year.