[MassBimmer]

Originally Posted by Derek Zoolander

Nashua, NH charged me $1044 to register my vehicle "because I bought a BMW" (exact quote from lady at town hall). It's based on car value aka because I didn't pay sales tax on it.

I wouldn't even mind this. Want to charge me sales tax? Fine. Just don't charge me to own a friggin car when the Mass Turnpike Authority is the most corrupt organization in the state.

[souzar]

Can we just increase the gas tax and eliminate excise tax? Sure, it is not perfect but it is pretty damn good. Tracking miles driven is the ideal way to tax someone...but that is way to invasive for me. Increase to the gas tax would promote more environmentally friendly vehicles, car pooling, and allows those that want an M3 to have one and pay for it.

I assume you completely disagree with the Laffer curve? It is my general argument against the notion that the "wealthy" don't want to increase taxes out of complete greed. I am at the point in my life where I don't really care much about making another dollar in my salary...most will go to taxes. Where is the motivation to advance?

Also, I have been curious what actually damages the roads. Of course it is some combination of weather + wear and tear...but what exactly. Our roads are made to be more vulnerable to wear and tear (increased rubber I think) to handle the extreme temperatures.

Originally Posted by lem144

You're right - the income tax is regressive. I think we need a graduated state income tax. Not popular with the really wealthy, but so what?

As far as the use tax argument: there's some merit, but paying for local transportation capital and maintenance has to be done one way or another, and 'how much you use it' isn't really the argument that we've used. A progressive tax system that enables lower wealth people the same opportunity to participate in the activity to be productive members of society is better than some flat fee, increasing the burden on those individuals.

Ideally, we'd tax vehicles based on emissions or weight, encouraging the development of lighter vehicles that cause less roadway damage while simultaneously lower environmental damage....but one can dream.

[souzar]

Originally Posted by MassBimmer

I wouldn't even mind this. Want to charge me sales tax? Fine. Just don't charge me to own a friggin car when the Mass Turnpike Authority is the most corrupt organization in the state.

I agree. It sucks going from Weston to pick someone up at the airport. Do I really have to fund the big dig forever?

I forget the percentage, but it something crazy (60%) of all revenue collected goes to pay salaries. Why can we not have a really discounted ez pass / coin op lane.

[TL]

i wonder why i haven't seen my bill yet...

[souzar]

Originally Posted by TL

i wonder why i haven't seen my bill yet...

Shhhh....now they are on to you.

[leemik]

Originally Posted by TL

i wonder why i haven't seen my bill yet...

Tim, from what I've experienced there's no rhyme or reason to when the excise tax bill comes.. I think the individual towns are in charge of sending it out.. Since I moved to Quincy though--Feb 1st on the dot every year.

Sell a car mid year and you still have to pay for your old car pro-rated.. I argued this once because you seem to pay up front for the whole year of a car so why do i still have to pay a half year on a car i sold the following year? The city should owe *ME* a half year of excise tax.. I've argued and argued with city hall...falls on deaf ears.. it's how they double dip you..

Don't even get me started on the mass pike lol..

--mike

[Corsa999]

Originally Posted by Derek Zoolander

Nashua, NH charged me $1044 to register my vehicle "because I bought a BMW" (exact quote from lady at town hall). It's based on car value aka because I didn't pay sales tax on it.

I've seen my buddy who lives in NH get charged A LOT to register his vehicles. No tax but huge "registration" fees. He's paying a good amount for a new Escalade, Z4, MB GL450 and Ducati 1198. That's alotta tax man.


BMW just adds that excise tax on to your regular lease bill.....BUT you don't have to pay it until the end of the lease term if you so choose.

[TL]

Originally Posted by leemik

Tim, from what I've experienced there's no rhyme or reason to when the excise tax bill comes.. I think the individual towns are in charge of sending it out.. Since I moved to Quincy though--Feb 1st on the dot every year.

Sell a car mid year and you still have to pay for your old car pro-rated.. I argued this once because you seem to pay up front for the whole year of a car so why do i still have to pay a half year on a car i sold the following year? The city should owe *ME* a half year of excise tax.. I've argued and argued with city hall...falls on deaf ears.. it's how they double dip you..

Don't even get me started on the mass pike lol..

--mike

yea i agree with you. I remember when I got my car back in 08 (last week of Dec) and they charged me for a full month. I called city hall and didn't want to hear it.

You can never win when dealing with the city, especially in this economy

[Thunder Dump]

Two things everyone should know/remember about MA excise tax:

1. It is prorated on a monthly basis if you buy a new car mid-year based on the *registration* date (not the purchase date), and it doesn't matter if you are registered for the whole month or just one day--you still get charged for the full month. Why is this important? Well, if you registered your new BMW on July 30, 2009, you will pay excise tax for 6 months that first year. But if you registered it on August 1, 2009 you will pay for only 5 months that first year. An '09 328i E93 like mine costs about $55/month in excise tax so that's nothing to overlook.

2. People often forget they are entitled to an excise tax abatement when they sell a car mid-year. Remember, you get an excise bill around this time each year and you're paying for all of 2010 when you do. So let's see you sell (or even total) your car in April. You still have paid for 8 months of tax up front and you'll be paying excise on the new car for the remainder of the year. At $55/month, that would be almost $450 you could be getting back from your town (the abatement is applied for at your city/town assessor's or tax office).

[Thunder Dump]

Originally Posted by leemik

Sell a car mid year and you still have to pay for your old car pro-rated.. I argued this once because you seem to pay up front for the whole year of a car so why do i still have to pay a half year on a car i sold the following year? The city should owe *ME* a half year of excise tax.. I've argued and argued with city hall...falls on deaf ears.. it's how they double dip you..

This is absolutely false (see my last post). Here is a link to the state form that you fill out and submit to your town for the abatement:

http://www.mass.gov/Ador/docs/dls/pu...vabatelong.pdf

[TL]

FYI - I'm currently doing my taxes and this found this:
If you purchased a vehicle after February 16, 2009, and before January 1, 2010, you may be able to deduct the state or local sales and excise taxes you paid.

[Thunder Dump]

You can always deduct excise tax every year (I do), but 2009 had the new car tax incentive where you can deduct the sales tax you paid on a new car purchase (not lease) up to the first $49,500 of the cost of the car (which means in MA, a maximum deduction of $3093.75.

[TL]

Originally Posted by Thunder Dump

You can always deduct excise tax every year (I do), but 2009 had the new car tax incentive where you can deduct the sales tax you paid on a new car purchase (not lease) up to the first $49,500 of the cost of the car (which means in MA, a maximum deduction of $3093.75.

dam, looks like i missed that by a week...bought my car last week of Dec of 08

[souzar]

Originally Posted by Thunder Dump

You can always deduct excise tax every year (I do), but 2009 had the new car tax incentive where you can deduct the sales tax you paid on a new car purchase (not lease) up to the first $49,500 of the cost of the car (which means in MA, a maximum deduction of $3093.75.

I claimed this...but I feel dirty. Why is my state sales tax deducted from my federal tax liability? Such BS.

[TripEEE]

Originally Posted by TL

FYI - I'm currently doing my taxes and this found this:
If you purchased a vehicle after February 16, 2009, and before January 1, 2010, you may be able to deduct the state or local sales and excise taxes you paid.

Is that only if you bought the car new?

[leemik]

Originally Posted by Thunder Dump

This is absolutely false (see my last post). Here is a link to the state form that you fill out and submit to your town for the abatement:

http://www.mass.gov/Ador/docs/dls/pu...vabatelong.pdf

I actually took time off from work and went to Quincy city hall to argue this.. The "kind" lady told me I was too late to try and get an abatement on the car I don't own anymore because the abatement had to be in XX weeks (XX = don't remember number) before the bill was due and I had missed the deadline so pay the bill or risk having your registration revoked with fines and penalties have a nice day. I mean I really have no say whether or not she was lying out of her ass.. After that nice pleasent exchange i just figure the gov't will just make up any rule to screw me over so why bother..

Originally Posted by Thunder Dump

You can always deduct excise tax every year (I do), but 2009 had the new car tax incentive where you can deduct the sales tax you paid on a new car purchase (not lease) up to the first $49,500 of the cost of the car (which means in MA, a maximum deduction of $3093.75.

Read the fine print.. it's only good from feb 16, 2009 to the last day of Dec 2009.. me = screwed by the gov't again... bought my car Jan 26 2009

[MassBimmer]

Originally Posted by 456ntripz

Is that only if you bought the car new?

I believe it's only for new cars.

[Thunder Dump]

Originally Posted by leemik

Read the fine print.. it's only good from feb 16, 2009 to the last day of Dec 2009.. me = screwed by the gov't again... bought my car Jan 26 2009

Yes, I'm well aware of the dates--they'd already been posted in this thread. I was posting for the information in general, not in response to you.

Originally Posted by MassBimmer

I believe it's only for new cars.

Correct. New car purchase only and not a lease.

[ska///235i]

i feel your pain..1st year of ownership, i paid over $400 ex. tax. Now is only $80..WHOOT!

[redfred18t]

Originally Posted by JeffL

I LOVE excise tax. I also LOVE how it comes right at income tax time, as I don't get a return it's a pay pay situation. And buying new cars every 16-18 months doesn't help with any of this either. So yes I feel your pain.

You get a new car every 16 to 18 months? Oh man I feel bad for you. How hard your life must be.

[redfred18t]

I got my car at the end of october, and a couple weeks ago (honestly dont remember when it came in) I got an excise tax bill. I look at it and I'm like $68 for the year? NICE. Low and behold it was for the two months I owned the car in 09. Ugh. At least this year it's not horrible.. it's like $235 or so. Still excise tax is bs. We pay registration, tax on fuels, tolls, etc.

[jopa489]

Originally Posted by redfred18t

I got my car at the end of october, and a couple weeks ago (honestly dont remember when it came in) I got an excise tax bill. I look at it and I'm like $68 for the year? NICE. Low and behold it was for the two months I owned the car in 09. Ugh. At least this year it's not horrible.. it's like $235 or so. Still excise tax is bs. We pay registration, tax on fuels, tolls, etc.

And the roads are still completely shitty. Great system.