Ditch the Property Tax
Saline Hardliners LIVE Replay: Episode 8
Apr 4, 2025
Hey Hardliners!
What’s the Deal?
Arkansas’s personal property tax is hitting us where it hurts—every year, every vehicle, every piece of gear. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Enter Aaron Hansen, a former Washington state resident who’s passionate about ending the Arkansas property tax! Out there, he didn’t pay this tax—or a bunch of other state burdens we’re stuck with here. “Aren’t we all” sick of it?
We’re breaking down alternatives—sales tax swaps, fee cuts, you name it—that could put money back in every Arkansan’s pocket.
Special Guest:
Aaron Hansen joins us with his outsider’s take and a fire to rethink how Arkansas taxes us. Could scrapping personal property tax change the game for families, farmers, and small businesses? We’re getting answers.
This is about your wallet, your freedom, and your future. Like, share, and join the rebellion against the tax grind! Subscribe to Arkansas 1st News and more from Saline Hardliners
Hardliners OUT!!
We are a Christian, conservative, grassroots, MAGA-based podcast bent on bringing you local and state news and opinions.
Why Arkansas Should Abolish the Personal Property Tax on Used Cars and Used Goods
By Ron Bartels © 2025
1. It’s Double Taxation
Used cars and other goods were already taxed when they were first sold. Continuing to tax them yearly as “personal property” means Arkansans pay over and over again for the same item—long after it’s lost value. That’s unfair and inefficient.
2. It Hurts Working Families Most
The personal property tax disproportionately impacts low- and middle-income families relying on older, used vehicles. A family driving a 12-year-old minivan still gets a tax bill—while wealthier residents leasing new cars might not feel the pinch as much. It’s a regressive system that punishes thrift.
3. It Discourages Ownership and Economic Activity
Taxing used goods discourages people from purchasing and maintaining what they already own. It’s a hidden tax on self-reliance. Instead of encouraging residents to fix up a used truck or boat, the state punishes them with an annual tax bill.
4. It’s a Bureaucratic Burden
The current system wastes government time and resources tracking, appraising, and billing thousands of depreciating personal items. Eliminating this tax would streamline government operations, reduce clerical overhead, and improve public satisfaction with tax services.
5. Arkansas Is Falling Behind Reform-Minded States
Several states have already reformed or abolished personal property taxes on used vehicles or household goods. Arkansas can lead in the South by lifting this outdated burden and proving that tax reform can be pro-growth, pro-family, and pro-freedom.
6. It Undermines Trust in Government
Many Arkansans see the annual personal property tax as a “gotcha” bill—a sneaky fee for simply owning something old. Repealing it would restore public trust by showing that the state respects personal property and the principle of fair taxation.
The Wrap-up ~ Abolishing the personal property tax on used vehicles and goods is not just a financial move; it’s a statement of values. Arkansas can show that it supports working people, honest ownership, and tax fairness. It’s time to end this outdated and unfair tax.