Author: Paula King - Bureau of Local Assessment Field Advisor
This is the time of year when local assessors process the largest motor vehicle excise commitments. Assessors usually receive more calls on questions regarding excise bills than they do for real estate and personal property tax bills combined. Therefore, we’d like to highlight some useful resources that can assist in answering a variety of motor vehicle excise questions.
The DLS Bureau of Local Assessment has developed an informative Tuning Your Motor Vehicle Excise Skills webinar. In addition, the DOR Guide to Motor Vehicle Excise offers Motor Vehicle Excise from the taxpayer’s perspective. This Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): Motor Vehicle Excise (PDF) addresses a number of common inquiries and plain language responses. Finally, the RMV Online Service Center is a great resource for taxpayers and should be bookmarked for easy reference.
An assessing office’s administration of Motor Vehicle Excise serves a critical function in the broader municipal finance well-being of the community. For most municipalities motor vehicle excise receipts are the largest local revenue source second only to real and personal property tax. In FY22, municipalities received over $950 million dollars in motor vehicle excise receipts. Each year thousands of taxpayers apply for excise abatements due to canceling registrations for a variety of reasons including moving out of state and transfer of ownership. As a result, it’s vital to understand the abatement process. For more guidance on Motor Vehicle Excise, please visit DLS Motor Vehicle Excise Training and Resources webpage.
Helpful Resources
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Editor: Dan Bertrand
Editorial Board: Marcia Bohinc, Linda Bradley, Sean Cronin, Emily Izzo, Lisa Krzywicki and Tony Rassias
| Date published: | March 16, 2023 |
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