Excise Tax 101
MOTOR VEHICLE EXCISE TAX REFUND
It's your money, so ask for it!
Did you know that when you buy a new car or change vehicles you can ask for an excise tax refund?
Under Massachusetts General Law Chapter 60A, all Massachusetts residents who own and register a motor vehicle must annually pay a motor vehicle excise. Bills are issued by cities and towns at the beginning of the year for the 12 months of the calendar year. If you register a vehicle after the beginning of the calendar year you will be billed for the month you registered it until the end of the calendar year.
If you transfer registration or get a new one, you are entitled to a refund for the unused portion of the excise tax that you already paid to the end of the calendar year. This does not happen automatically; it is up to you to request the refund by applying for abatement of the unused portion of the year.
The Assessor will need to have proof of two things:
.
No abatement can reduce a tax to less than $5, and no abatement of less than $5 will be granted.
It's your money, so ask for it!
Did you know that when you buy a new car or change vehicles you can ask for an excise tax refund?
Under Massachusetts General Law Chapter 60A, all Massachusetts residents who own and register a motor vehicle must annually pay a motor vehicle excise. Bills are issued by cities and towns at the beginning of the year for the 12 months of the calendar year. If you register a vehicle after the beginning of the calendar year you will be billed for the month you registered it until the end of the calendar year.
If you transfer registration or get a new one, you are entitled to a refund for the unused portion of the excise tax that you already paid to the end of the calendar year. This does not happen automatically; it is up to you to request the refund by applying for abatement of the unused portion of the year.
The Assessor will need to have proof of two things:
- What happened to the Plate?
It is your car's license plate that determines your bill. It is the proof your vehicle is registered and the information that the Registry of Motor Vehicles uses to tell cities and towns where to send the bills. When your relationship with a vehicle is at an end, one of your first priorities should be to properly deal with your license plate. If you are not transferring the plate to your next vehicle, the best thing you can do is cancel your registration at the RMV, either online, or in person at your local office; the closest RMV is located at 18 Miner St., Greenfield, MA 01301. This not only cancels your registration, but the plate as well. By canceling/returning the plate you are telling the RMV not to give you any more bills for that vehicle. - What happened to the vehicle?
You are required to pay excise tax for the calendar year as long as the vehicle remains in your possession. The Assessor needs proof of when the vehicle left your possession for you to qualify for an abatement. If you still own the vehicle, the state considers it your personal property and you will not be eligible for abatement. If you no longer own/possess the vehicle, we need proof of where it went. A bill of sale to the new owner, a purchase and sale agreement showing the car being traded, or a letter from the insurance company showing the vehicle was a total loss are some acceptable forms of documentation. (see below for instructions for different circumstances)
.
No abatement can reduce a tax to less than $5, and no abatement of less than $5 will be granted.