[MassBimmer]

Anyone else get their excise tax bill today? It's seriously one of the things that pisses me off most about living in Massachusetts. Not all states have this tax and I really wish Taxachusetts didn't either. It's bad enough they drill you on the sales tax, then we have to pay tax on the car every year just to own it. I know we all deal with it, just felt like venting

[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.

[blueaudi18]

look on the bright side... it less then what u paid last year...

[ibeclueless]

i know how you are feeling, i received mines a month ago and wasn't a happy person when i saw it.

[selt]

We have it in Georgia as well, it's just called ad valorem tax.

[leemik]

yup.. got my bill Feb 1st.. it's like $1K for 2 cars this year.. last year it was $1,400.. and they say it goes towards fixing the roads? bullsh*t i say.. some politician is hiring all their hack friends at $150K/year to "oversee transportation" with the money..

[Kev]

That's a load of bull crap. For that short distance between the Pru and Boston Medical Center, I don't know how many times I have to swerve like I'm driving drunk to avoid hitting pot holes in my car. Fixing the pot holes their ass.....

[Derek Zoolander]

That sucks. Live Free or Die

[DJKhan85]

I got mine as well. Completely forgot about this nonsense tax and then got caught in left field. It's turning into an expensive month.

[MassBimmer]

Originally Posted by Derek Zoolander

That sucks. Live Free or Die

F*ckin NH

[souzar]

I am OK with paying taxes.

I just want to understand how my car being worth more than an accord requires proportionally more to maintain roads. I'd guess that the amount of road repair is more related to number of miles and not cost of the car...a gas tax increase makes more sense.

But ya know, the wealthy can afford it so make them pay. F'in BS.

[LuisBoston]

Originally Posted by souzar

I am OK with paying taxes.

I just want to understand how my car being worth more than an accord requires proportionally more to maintain roads. I'd guess that the amount of road repair is more related to number of miles and not cost of the car...a gas tax increase makes more sense.

But ya know, the wealthy can afford it so make them pay. F'in BS.

It's called Progressive Taxation, and it's much better than Regressive taxation where poor people pay a disproportionate amount of their meager income to the Man. I have no problem paying a progressive tax. The system we have in place enables many to make a lot more than me, and those who make a lot less do valuable services the rest of us enjoy.

So yeah, if you own a $40k 2010 model, you should pay more than someone with a 1994 Civic. It's just fair.

And FWIW, I am tired of hearing "taxachusetts". We rank mid-pack with regards to the tax burden, something like 22/23 out of 50 states. Considering that our state has a higher than average education system, higher wages, better healthcare, lower poverty, I'd say we're doing alright. You want lower taxes, go down South where there's more poverty etc. and you can keep more of your money (which you probably will make less of).

[LuisBoston]

Originally Posted by MassBimmer

F*ckin NH

Agree, we need a tax, I mean "toll", on highways coming from up north too.

[Derek Zoolander]

Mass Turnpike? Most states have tolls...

[DJKhan85]

Originally Posted by lem144

So yeah, if you own a $40k 2010 model, you should pay more than someone with a 1994 Civic. It's just fair.

How is that fair? We use the same roads...do I get to use some extra special road that I haven't known about since I pay more?

[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.

[souzar]

Originally Posted by lem144

It's called Progressive Taxation, and it's much better than Regressive taxation where poor people pay a disproportionate amount of their meager income to the Man. I have no problem paying a progressive tax. The system we have in place enables many to make a lot more than me, and those who make a lot less do valuable services the rest of us enjoy.

So yeah, if you own a $40k 2010 model, you should pay more than someone with a 1994 Civic. It's just fair.

And FWIW, I am tired of hearing "taxachusetts". We rank mid-pack with regards to the tax burden, something like 22/23 out of 50 states. Considering that our state has a higher than average education system, higher wages, better healthcare, lower poverty, I'd say we're doing alright. You want lower taxes, go down South where there's more poverty etc. and you can keep more of your money (which you probably will make less of).

I want everyone to pay the same portion (percentage) of their income. Which is what MA does...5% or so. So if I make 200k I would pay 10000. Someone making 30K would pay 1500. That is fair in my mind because I would end up using more services the state offers. I will go to stores which inherently use government services (police,fire) more often.

The excise tax is different. It is a use tax. I use the roads so I need to pay taxes....fine. But I don't use (or it is not clear that I would use) the roads more than a person in 94 Civic. How about 200K porsche that sits in a garage most of the time, should they really be paying huge excise bills each year? Just because they can?

Another point is that the tax severely hurts new car purchases. The DMV (or whoever values the car each year) depreciates cars much too fast. If I buy a 25k new car or a 25k used car the person with the used car would pay a lot less in tax. Why?

I also find it odd that the excise tax (a small function of my total tax liability BTW) is progressive yet my state income tax is a regressive flat rate...

[LuisBoston]

Originally Posted by Derek Zoolander

Mass Turnpike? Most states have tolls...

I-93/95/Rt. 3.

[LuisBoston]

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.

Originally Posted by souzar

I want everyone to pay the same portion (percentage) of their income. Which is what MA does...5% or so. So if I make 200k I would pay 10000. Someone making 30K would pay 1500. That is fair in my mind because I would end up using more services the state offers. I will go to stores which inherently use government services (police,fire) more often.

The excise tax is different. It is a use tax. I use the roads so I need to pay taxes....fine. But I don't use (or it is not clear that I would use) the roads more than a person in 94 Civic. How about 200K porsche that sits in a garage most of the time, should they really be paying huge excise bills each year? Just because they can?

Another point is that the tax severely hurts new car purchases. The DMV (or whoever values the car each year) depreciates cars much too fast. If I buy a 25k new car or a 25k used car the person with the used car would pay a lot less in tax. Why?

I also find it odd that the excise tax (a small function of my total tax liability BTW) is progressive yet my state income tax is a regressive flat rate...

[blueaudi18]

one question... do we pay excise tax on leased car? i got my bill for my other two cars but not the one for the leased. hmm.?

[jopa489]

Originally Posted by blueaudi18

one question... do we pay excise tax on leased car? i got my bill for my other two cars but not the one for the leased. hmm.?

Absolutely. My cars are leased and I pay the same excise tax as everyone else. It sucks.

The excise tax bill itself goes to BMWFS, but they tack it onto your normal monthly payment when the time comes.

[souzar]

Originally Posted by jopa489

Absolutely. My cars are leased and I pay the same excise tax as everyone else. It sucks.

The excise tax bill itself goes to BMWFS, but they tack it onto your normal monthly payment when the time comes.

There is some weird situation with a lease. I believe it is considered a property tax and not a use tax. It may matter for tax purposed...maybe not.

Either way, yeah, you will get a bill. Back when I leased it came in march.