Boat Excise

Eastham Town SealBoat Excise

The boat excise tax is imposed for the privilege of using the waterways of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. You should expect to receive a boat excise bill for any boat that is moored, docked or sitting on a trailer in Eastham as of July 1st. 

Our boat excise tax rolls are derived from forms of lists, lists of active registrations received from the Massachusetts Environmental Police, and the Town of Eastham's Harbormaster's annual docking and mooring lists. Boat excise tax runs for the Fiscal Year of July1 - June 30. Bills are usually sent out in November or December of the current Fiscal Year. 

All persons owning a boat on July 1st, shall on or before August 1st, file a declaration (Boat Form of List) with the Board of Assessors as required by Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 60B, Section 2(b). Failure to file could result in a denial of any application for abatement. 

Valuation Schedule

Vessels are taxed according to the following schedule based on age and length. Taxes are $10.00 per thousand of valuation.

Contact Us

  1. Assessing

    Contact Assessing

    Physical Address
    2500 State Highway
    Eastham, MA 02642

    Phone: 508-240-5900 ext. 3215

    Directory

LENGTH OF VESSEL UNDER 4 YRS OF AGE 4-6 YRS OF AGE 7 OR MORE YRS OG AGE
Under 16 feet NO TAX NO TAX NO TAX
16 ft, but less than 17.5 ft $1,500 NO TAX NO TAX
17.5 ft, but less than 20 ft $3,000 $2,000 $1,500
20 ft, but less than 22.5 ft $5,000 $3,300 $2,500
22.5 ft, but less than 25 ft $7,500 $5,000 $3,800
25 ft, but less than 27.5 ft $10,500 $7,000 $5,300
27.5 ft, but less than 30 ft $14,000 $9,300 $7,000
30 ft, but less than 35 ft $18,500 $12,300 $9,300
35 ft, but less than 40 ft $24,000 $16,000 $12,000
40 ft, but less than 50 ft $31,500 $21,000 $15,800
50 ft, but less than 60 ft $41,000 $27,300 $20,500
60 ft or over $60,000 $33,000 $24,800

Boat Abatements

You may be eligible for an abatement on your bill if you sold your boat or moved your boat to another community. In order to process your abatement application, please provide the following documents:

  • if you sold your boat, we need a copy of the boat's bill of sale or a signed affidavit
  • if you moved your boat to another community, we need a copy of a paid excised bill from that community or proof that you have paid for a mooring for the boat there
  • if your boat was junked, lost, destroyed, or stolen, please provide documentation from the junk yard, insurance company, Coast Guard or Police

Download Abatement application. If you sold or moved the boat prior to July 1st, the bill will be abated in full. If you did so after July 1st, the bill will be prorated on a monthly basis down to a minimum of $5.00. Please note that both your registration and title must be canceled with the Massachusetts Environmental Police. The boat change form can be found here, and it can be faxed or mailed to the MEP office, or it can be returned to the Assessor's Office along with your abatement application.  

Failure to pay an issued boat excise tax bill can prevent you from being able to renew your mooring, dockage or slip in Eastham, as well as prevent you from being able to purchase beach and transfer station stickers. If you get a boat excise bill in the mail that you think you do not owe, please do not ignore it! Contact the Assessor's Office immediately.

Exemptions

Boats under $10,000 in value that are used for commercial fishing are exempt from boat excise tax in Massachusetts. If you use your boat for commercial fishing, you should submit a Boat Form of List, along with a copy of your MA Commercial Fishing License and the top page of your most recent MA state income tax return listing your profession as some form of commercial fishing.