Do you miss massachusetts? (Boston, Lowell: new home, buyer, property tax)

[Lisa_from_Debary]

Originally Posted by ChunkyMonkey

Massachusetts Smog Checks - Emissions Regulations, MA Smog Testing Stations - DMV.ORG
This is a quote from the dmv site:
Inspection Sticker Fees
The Massachusetts annual inspection process costs $29. You pay the inspector whether or not your vehicle passes inspection. Some stations accept credit cards. Others are cash only.
If Your Vehicle Doesn't Pass the Inspection

If your vehicle fails inspection, you can return to the same inspection station once within 60 days after the rejected examination for a free re-examination. If you wait longer than 60 days or go to a different station, you'll need to begin the process all over again.

Hmmm, the state inspection is $29 not $40 and if you fail you don't have to pay on the next visit. I know I just got it inspected. This cast serious doubt on your entire post. Get out and spread your "joy" to the next unsuspecting state.

I know you can't hear me but I am clapping...

I thought the entire post by Outraged...was a little unreasonable, thank you for posting something to show that.

[vter]

I grew up in Vermont and moved to Boston after college. I stayed 6 years. I don't miss it. I didnt like the traffic, people's attitudes (people complained about EVERYTHING!) and the overall fast pace of life.
I did like the restaurants, shopping etc.
I am much happier home in VT.

[puffle]

It made me feel more secure on the road despite the crazy driving, that everyone's car has to be inspected and not allowed until they pass. All we have in California is a smog and emissions test which is why it is common to see so many cars broken down on the side of the road or worse, freeway.

[ahagg]

I moved from "Wista" to S.W. Georgia two years ago and now realize how much I loved living there. I miss EVERYTHING about Ma. Yes, even the snow!! It was so damn hot last weekend I would have given my left arm to see a snowflake. The south sucks!!! I can't wait to get outta here.

[katzenfreund]

Originally Posted by puffle

When we lived in Virginia we had to pay personal property tax on vehicles. Did you have the same in MD? That would be the equivelant to the exise tax or vehicle registration in Calfornia. Owning a car is actually less expensive in Ma. than California. Insurance is about the same or lower than Ca. and registration is lower too and you have to renew yearly instead of every two if choose.

No, we didn't have the personal prop. tax on cars...but MD taxes are far from low. For some reason MA has the "taxachusetts" reputation, yet it doesn't seem as if they are any higher than in MD?

[puffle]

Originally Posted by katzenfreund

No, we didn't have the personal prop. tax on cars...but MD taxes are far from low. For some reason MA has the "taxachusetts" reputation, yet it doesn't seem as if they are any higher than in MD?

or California!!! Sales tax alone is 8.5% on everything. Gas is also the highest in the nation. If only people knew how the grass isn't always greener on the other side......

[findingmesomeday]

I think MA earns the "Taxachussetts" reputation because of all the user fees and other "hidden" taxes you find living here. Yes, they don't tax food or clothing. But have you seen the use tax on your gas/electricity? The state income tax is ridiculous. No matter how few dependents we claim, no matter how large a refund we might get from the feds, every year, for the past 10 years, we've owed the Commonwealth money!

Each town has its own property tax rate and overrriding it for schools and services is a town by town issue. My property taxes have doubled in 10 years. And they were high to begin with. So that's not a state tax, but it's a tax nonetheless. I pay to license my dog and then I pay my town for a piece of paper that says I've licensed my dog. Just recently my town started charging for use of the town dump. There is no public garbage hauling service and the private haulers charge a fortune. The majority of people here just took their own stuff to the dump (when it was open--the hours were cut back drastically every year). Why did they charge this year? Because out of towners are using our dump. Why? Because they're not policing it. So we have to pay for them to hopefully police it and maybe, just maybe, the dump will be open more than 8 hours a week this coming year.

I have no idea of taxes are better or worse than elsewhere. I've lived in a lot of different states and the tax structures are so complicated, it's hard to compare. But the feeling of getting nickel-and-dimed to death in MA leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

[twiggy]

Originally Posted by webfootma

I think MA earns the "Taxachussetts" reputation because of all the user fees and other "hidden" taxes you find living here. Yes, they don't tax food or clothing. But have you seen the use tax on your gas/electricity? The state income tax is ridiculous. No matter how few dependents we claim, no matter how large a refund we might get from the feds, every year, for the past 10 years, we've owed the Commonwealth money!

Each town has its own property tax rate and overrriding it for schools and services is a town by town issue. My property taxes have doubled in 10 years. And they were high to begin with. So that's not a state tax, but it's a tax nonetheless. I pay to license my dog and then I pay my town for a piece of paper that says I've licensed my dog. Just recently my town started charging for use of the town dump. There is no public garbage hauling service and the private haulers charge a fortune. The majority of people here just took their own stuff to the dump (when it was open--the hours were cut back drastically every year). Why did they charge this year? Because out of towners are using our dump. Why? Because they're not policing it. So we have to pay for them to hopefully police it and maybe, just maybe, the dump will be open more than 8 hours a week this coming year.

I have no idea of taxes are better or worse than elsewhere. I've lived in a lot of different states and the tax structures are so complicated, it's hard to compare. But the feeling of getting nickel-and-dimed to death in MA leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

AZ has the same thing. I pay for the dump, my dog, house, car, food, clothing, etc......... Why MA has better eduction and social services I don't know, I think all our money goes to border patrol.

[katzenfreund]

Originally Posted by webfootma

I think MA earns the "Taxachussetts" reputation because of all the user fees and other "hidden" taxes you find living here. Yes, they don't tax food or clothing. But have you seen the use tax on your gas/electricity? The state income tax is ridiculous. No matter how few dependents we claim, no matter how large a refund we might get from the feds, every year, for the past 10 years, we've owed the Commonwealth money!

Each town has its own property tax rate and overrriding it for schools and services is a town by town issue. My property taxes have doubled in 10 years. And they were high to begin with. So that's not a state tax, but it's a tax nonetheless. I pay to license my dog and then I pay my town for a piece of paper that says I've licensed my dog. Just recently my town started charging for use of the town dump. There is no public garbage hauling service and the private haulers charge a fortune. The majority of people here just took their own stuff to the dump (when it was open--the hours were cut back drastically every year). Why did they charge this year? Because out of towners are using our dump. Why? Because they're not policing it. So we have to pay for them to hopefully police it and maybe, just maybe, the dump will be open more than 8 hours a week this coming year.

I have no idea of taxes are better or worse than elsewhere. I've lived in a lot of different states and the tax structures are so complicated, it's hard to compare. But the feeling of getting nickel-and-dimed to death in MA leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

Well, I can tell you that Maryland was no better, taxes on your electric bill, phone bill, there was even a $15 flush tax on every water bill, our property tax here is actually lower than in MD and we also paid plenty for trash removal in MD. We did have trash pick up at the last place we lived, but the place before that, we had to take our trash to a "dump" and they charged each time you went, you had to buy a coupon book. Also had dog and CAT License fees, even though cats were supposed to be inside only, strange huh?

[katzenfreund]

just found this.... on "Taxachusetts"

The Tax Foundation - "Taxachusetts" Label Long Obsolete