Many people do not realize that their excise tax is generated by the record of their car's registration at the Registry of Motor Vehicles. This means that if the information on your exicise bill is incorrect, you need to make the correction at the Registry in order for you bill to be printed correctly. As long as your car is registered, you will continue to be taxed until you return your license plates or transfer them!

If your move out of town you must correct your address at the Registry of Motor Vehicles or the tax bill will continue to be sent to your old address.

If you move out of state you must re-register your car in the state where you now reside and turn in your plates to the Registry. If you do not do this you will continue to be taxed by the state of Massachusetts.

If you transfer your plates to a new vehicle you are entitled to an abatement on the original car. Excise tax is charged from January 1 to December 31. You can recieve an abatement for the months in which the car was no longer registered. Please see Motor Vehicle Abatements. Your new car will be taxed from the day it is registered, this date of issue will appear on the tax bill. No adjustment to this tax should be neccessary.
 

Abatements. Abatements are issued by the Board of Assessors, NOT the tax collector. You can apply for an abatement if you car is no longer registered. You must fill out an abatement application that is available from the tax collector and on the door of the assessors' office in the town hall. You must include a copy of your plate return receipt or new registration (if the plate was transferred to another car).