Page 6 - GIADA Jan-Feb 2020

THE PULSE OF GIADA

GIADA Board Members, Tax

Commissioners and GA DOR Come

Together

During the weekend of January 17th-19th, GIADA held our winter board meeting at the Great Wolf Lodge
in Lagrange, GA. We had some very innovative meetings take place.

Saturday, during our Legislative Committee meeting, lobbyists Mo Thrash and John Haliburton spoke
about the new tax changes, TAVT, and other issues. The DOR Special Investigators took the rest of the
hour to speak about the importance of ETR, TOP, and Master Tag Fraud. They reminded dealers that
printing a second TOP for the same vehicle is computer fraud, which is a felony! Please make sure you are
not violating the procedures set in place. They also talked about drugs, jewelry, and money laundering in
the automobile industry. GIADA has been fortunate to have them speak at every CE class to help educate
our dealers.

After lunch, we had a Meet and Greet with the Director and the Assistant Director of the DOR. We also had
GIADA EXECUTIVE several tax commissioners and employees from different counties. They had a PowerPoint presentation
DIRECTOR, and talked about the many issues that dealers and the state have been facing. The dealers in the room were
Amy Bennett able to discuss problems and issues they have been having. This was a big conversion that needed to be
done to the save the records in Georgia. So, at the end of the day, we all have to be patient and each do our
part to make it run smoothly.

The 28,000 titles that were on NMVTIS hold are down to around 17,000, and almost 90% of these are dealer errors. Please, when filling
in the title number, make sure it is the correct one and not a random number or control number. The ETR vendors will be installing an
edit button to allow the scanning centers to make corrections after a deal is finalized. This will help tremendously. The state has requested
these edit buttons be added no later than March 16th.

I know dealers have faced many challenges in 2019! Please understand your state association is here to help you navigate through those
challenges. We can’t always change things that dealers think should be changed. It’s a process. Be involved with your state legislators and
your association before changes are made - don’t wait and complain afterwards! We are here representing the Georgia dealers in every
way we can. Even this weekend, while most of you were enjoying your holiday weekend, GIADA board members dedicated the entire
holiday weekend to better our industry. We had over 45 car dealers, associate members and many tax commissioners in meetings and
discussions until 6:15pm Saturday evening.

So when you call the office complaining or won’t renew your GIADA membership…remember, we do look after the best interest of the
dealers in the state of Georgia. It’s not always what we wanted, but we are passionate about getting our message heard! We keep fighting
even when we know change is going to happen. We learn to make the best of it over and over again. Change is a part of business.

I want to encourage all dealers who have not renewed this year because you don’t think GIADA has been fighting for you and your issues
to call and talk to a Board Member from the meeting this weekend and let them explain to you the work and dedication they all put into
GIADA. GIADA is made up of the strongest, most resilient and most successful dealers in the state, and the association is the strongest
association in the country…Continue to be a part of it.

Join or renew your membership TODAY! Show your support when it’s needed most!

Thank you for all your dedication and hard work and, most of all, for being loyal to your state association.

4 | GIADA Independent Auto Dealer JAN/FEB 2020