What is Excise Tax?

Under Massachusetts General Law Chapter 60A, all Massachusetts residents who own and register a motor vehicle must pay the motor vehicle excise annually. The city or town where the vehicle is principally garaged levies the excise and the revenues become part of the general funds of the municipality.

What is the rate?

The rate is $25.00 per thousand. This is the standard for the entire Commonwealth. The valuation is based on the rates set by the state and are assessed according to the manufacturer's list price. The value declines as the vehicle ages as shown in the table below.

Please Note: Your vehicle's MSRP is not determined by the town of Stoughton; these prices are set by the vehicle manufacturers themselves and indexed by the MA. If you find that your vehicle's MSRP is incorrect, you should notify the RMV immediately so the price index can be corrected, as the Assessing office is unable to do this.

Why did I get two excise tax bills in the same year?

Each time a car is registered or re-registered, the Registry of Motor Vehicles prepares a new excise bill. So when you buy a car, you will get another bill. If you register your new car in March, you will get a new bill for March through December on the new car. Please contact the Assessor’s office to inquire about an abatement on the original excise tax bill.

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NEVER IGNORE AN EXCISE TAX BILL

Residents who own and register a motor vehicle must annually pay a motor vehicle excise. If you no longer own vehicle or think you may be entitled to an adjustment, you should contact the Assessor’s Office at 781-341-1300 Ext. 9227