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Motor Vehicle Excise Tax
The value of the vehicle is determined by multiplying the manufacturer's suggested retail price by the depreciation factor according to the following table:
Year | Percentage |
---|---|
New Car released in the year prior to manufacture
|
50%
|
In the year of manufacture
|
90%
|
In the second year
|
60%
|
In the third year
|
40%
|
In the fourth year
|
25%
|
In the fifth and all succeeding years
|
10%
|
- The minimum excise tax bill is $5.
- The excise tax rate is $25 per $1,000 of assessed value.
EXCISE ABATEMENTS
Excise abatements are warranted when a vehicle is sold, traded, or donated within the year or has been registered in another state.
General information required for an abatement is based on “what happened to the car” and “what happened to the plate.” The following illustrates the documentation required for our office to process an abatement.
Transaction Documentation Needed
SOLD VEHICLE-NEW PLATES Plate return receipt and copy of bill of sale/purchase agreement
SOLD VEHICLE-TRANSFERRED PLATES New registration and purchase agreement showing trade
TRADED VEHICLE Plate return receipt or new registration and purchase agreement
showing trade-in
MOVED OUT OF MASSACHUSETTS Plate return receipt and copy of new out of state registration
DONATED Plate return receipt and receipt from charity
JUNKED Plate return receipt and receipt from junk yard
TOTAL LOSS Plate return receipt and statement letter from insurance company
Other information:
If you have cancelled your plates but have not disposed of or sold the vehicle, you are not entitled to an excise abatement.
Excise bills stand on their own (refunds cannot be transferred to a new bill for example).
Leased vehicles are owned by the leasing company. Requests for excise abatements must be made by the leasing company.
Address changes and garage codes are processed through the registry of motor vehicles.
For more information, please review the Excise Abatement Form
As noted, address changes, garage code changes, plate cancellations are all done through the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles. Many of these services can now be completed on line.