Motor Vehicle Excise Information

Motor Vehicle Excise Abatements

** Please Note: Massachusetts license plates must be cancelled with the RMV in order to halt the billing process.   You can visit www.massrmv.com for more information.


In order to receive an abatement on your excise tax bill, you must submit an abatement application, which can be found in the Assessors office or by clicking 
here.
  
Along with the application, please refer to the table below regarding the required accompanying documentation.

  
Reason for Abatement Document for Vehicle  Document for Plate/Registration
Vehicle sold or traded Bill of Sale Plate return receipt from RMV or
new registration if plate transferred to another vehicle
Vehicle total loss Insurance Settlement Letter Plate return receipt or new registration if plate transferred to another vehicle 
Vehicle stolen Police Report Plate return receipt or new registration if plate transferred to another vehicle
Vehicle repossessed Notice from Lienholder Plate return receipt or new registration if plate transferred to another vehicle 
Vehicle junked Receipt from Junk Yard Plate return receipt or new registration if plate transferred to another vehicle
Vehicle returned (Lemon Law) Letter from dealer certifying return Plate return receipt or new registration if plate transferred to another vehicle
Moved from billing city or town before January 1 of tax year Proof of residency before January 1st  Proof RMV was notified before January 1st of address change
Moved from Massachusetts Registration from new state Plate return receipt from Massachusetts RMV

For any other circumstances not listed above, please contact the Assessors office directly.

If a vehicle was sold/gifted through a private sale and a Bill of Sale was not given at the time of sale, you may use this Bill of Sale to submit with your abatement application.

 All paperwork for the vehicle should contain: 

  • Effective Date
  • Year of Vehicle
  • Make/Model of Vehicle
  • VIN #
  •  
      For further information please refer to page 2 of the abatement application or by calling the Assessors office directly at 781-618-9760.