Motor Vehicle Excise Tax

Motor vehicle excise tax is assessed and levied each calendar year for every motor vehicle that is registered in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The rate of the excise tax is $25.00 per $1,000 worth of value and the tax is calculated from the date of registration to the end of the calendar year.

The Registry of Motor Vehicles in Boston emails this office the informational data on the tax bill as it appears on the vehicle registration. Therefore it is very important that the information that appears on the registration is accurate, particularly the mailing address and place of garaging. In several instances errors in these data fields have caused serious delay in receipt of tax bills causing additional interest charges and penalties that cannot be waived.

Furthermore, failure to pay an excise tax will result in the inability to renew your license and/or registration until all delinquent taxes are paid. If the status of the motor vehicle changes during the calendar year, please contact the Assessors' Office for an application for abatement.