Motor Vehicle Excise

Billing 

Residents who own and register a motor vehicle must annually pay a motor vehicle excise. The excise is levied by the city or town where the vehicle is principally garaged and the revenues become part of the local community treasury. Commitments for calendar year 2022 are currently still being mailed out. Bills for the calendar year 2023 have been issued (mailed 2/17/2023) and will continue to do so throughout the year. If you have not received a bill, please reach out to the Assessor's Office at 413-259-3024. 

Payment

Payment for a motor vehicle excise bill is due 30 days from the date the excise bill is issued (mailed).  According to Chapter 60A, section 2 of the Massachusetts General Laws, “Failure to receive notice shall not affect the validity of the excise”.  A person who does not receive a bill is still liable for the excise plus any interest charges accrued. Therefore, it is important to keep the Registry, Assessors, and the post office informed of current name and address changes so that excise bills can be delivered promptly. It is the responsibility of the owner to contact the Assessors (413-259-3024) if they have not received a bill. 

Payments may be made at our Central Services Counter located on the first floor of Town Hall, by mail (4 Boltwood Ave.), dropped off in our secure drop box on the Main Street entrance of Town Hall or online using our Online Bill Pay.

Registration Changes

Registration changes at the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) will result in off-cycle billing, which continues throughout the calendar year. 

Visit Mass.gov for more helpful information on motor vehicle excise. 

Never Ignore an Excise Bill

Bills must be paid or abated in full to avoid additional fees. If you no longer own a vehicle or think you may be entitled to an adjustment, you should contact the Assessor's Office (413-259-3024) for further detail. Filing for an abatement does not alter the due date or the resulting schedule of fees and interest. 

Penalties for Nonpayment

If an excise bill is not paid within 30 days from the issue date, the Collector will send a late bill (demand), with a fee of $10. In addition, interest will accrue on the overdue bill at an annual rate of 12% from the day after the due date. 

If the late bill is not paid within 14 days, the Collector may issue a warrant to the Deputy Tax Collector or an appointed agent. The Deputy Tax Collector issues a warrant notice at a cost of $22. If there is still no payment, a final warrant will be delivered or exhibited to the taxpayer at their residence or workplace at a fee of $17. All interest and penalties will be clearly stated on the bill. These penalties were set by state law in July 2003. Finally, the bill will be reported to the MA Registry of Motor Vehicles, where an RMV fee will be assessed and license and registration of the owner will be marked as non-renew status. 

Abatements

If an owner of a motor vehicle thinks they are entitled to an adjustment of their excise bill, it is strongly recommended that they pay the bill in full, then contact the Assessor's Office for an application for abatement. Although payment of a bill is not a precondition for an abatement, an owner risks incurring late fees or penalties if an abatement is not granted. 

Applications for abatements must be received by the Assessor's by December 21 of the year following the year of the tax. If the bill is mailed after December 1 of the year following the tax year, the application must be made on or before the 30th day from the date of issue or the date of mailing, whichever is later. 

Application for Motor Vehicle Excise Abatement

For inquiries or questions, please reach out to the Assessor's Office at 413-259-3024 or assessors@amherstma.gov..