MA tax on cars too much? (2013, buy, DMV)

[MtPleasantDream]

I bought a (modest but new) car this year, and received a $500 tax bill.
I know it is reducing every year, but it is still a lot of money.

The state I used to live in has no such tax, and no annual inspection.

[robr2]

And?

There's nothing you can do about it. MA has an annual excise tax and when you buy a new car, it's a hard hit the first year.

[massnative71]

Rhode Island and Maine are both worse, believe it or not. But on the bright side, it becomes barely even noticeable once the vehicle is 4 or 5 years old.

[CrowGirl]

I think your thread title would be more accurate by removing "on cars."

Seriously, it's not called Taxachusetts for no reason.

[timberline742]

Originally Posted by CrowGirl

Seriously, it's not called Taxachusetts for no reason.

Sure it is. Year in and year out, Mass falls firmly in the middle of the pack of states when looking at total tax burden.

[gf2020]

For what it's worth, automobile excise tax is paid to your community, not the state. The money stays local.

[scorpio516]

It's not that bad.

In 2012 I paid $125 per year for plates on a 1992 Volvo in Michigan. In 2011, I paid about the same in California. Other states roll excise tax into plate fees and you pay the state. In 2013, plates were $50 for 2 years and excise tax was less than $50.

In 2007, a friend bought a Pathfinder and the DMV mis-valued it at $70,000. The plates on that cost $800/yr

[matrix5k]

You pay taxes no matter where it comes from. NH has no income tax but high property taxes. It's all a wash.

[BostonMike7]

Excise tax can be brutal when you buy a brand new car.

[GeoffD]

Originally Posted by matrix5k

You pay taxes no matter where it comes from. NH has no income tax but high property taxes. It's all a wash.

As a public service:


If you buy a car from a Massachusetts dealership and register it in another state, have the car delivered over the state line and get the Massachusetts state paperwork that it was delivered. If you don't do that, if you ever try to move the car to Massachusetts, you'll owe enormous taxes, interest, and penalties. By dumb luck, I'd had my Massachusetts origin car delivered to Vermont. It was easy to run to the dealership and have them photocopy the delivery paperwork with the Massachusetts form.