Frequently Asked Questions

Excise bills are sent to taxpayers by the Town of Eastham throughout the year, as groups of bills known as commitments (up to 12 per year). They are received by the Town from the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles. Approximately three-fourths of all excise bills will be mailed in the First Commitment as a single group, usually in February. 

The remaining groups of bills will be sent throughout the remainder of the year as additional commitments are received by the Town from the Registry of Motor Vehicles. The Town of Eastham has no control over which bills will be included in a commitment as received from the Registry of Motor Vehicles.

Motor Vehicle excise taxes are due 30 days after their issuance.

The Registry of Motor Vehicles generates the mailing address based on their records. The information may also be pulled by Insurance garaging address provided to the RMV. Please contact the RMV to change your address. The Town of Eastham cannot edit or change MV excise bill addresses.

The excise tax bill is calculated as $25.00 per $1,000.00 of your vehicle’s value. 

You should contact the Registry of Motor Vehicles with any concerns on your valuation.

The most confusion arises when a vehicle is registered late in the calendar year. This generates a tax bill early in the next calendar year, which may be followed soon after by a full year bill for the new calendar year. Each bill identifies the year prominently. Taxpayers should make note of the year of the bill when paying an excise tax.

If an excise bill is received for a vehicle or trailer which has been sold, traded, donated or junked, it is the registrant’s responsibility to inform the towns Assessors Office and supply them with all necessary information. Our advice is to pay the bill first then investigate the appropriate adjustment with the Assessor’s Office. 

It is important that the bill for the vehicle that is no longer owned, not be ignored. The collection process will not cease until the proper paperwork has been filed with the Assessor’s Office.

There are many reasons why you may not have received a Motor Vehicle Excise tax. They may be any of the following:

1. The Registry of Motor Vehicles does not have your current mailing address.
2. Your registration has expired.
3. You haven’t been billed yet. (Note: the Registry commits up to 12 billing cycles in a calendar year.)
4. The U.S. Postal Service has misplaced your bill.

Please be advised that under M.G.L. Chapter 60A, Section 2, “Failure to receive an excise 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 and/or charges accrued. If you have not received a bill or think you have an outstanding excise tax, please feel free to contact the Collector’s Office and inquire.

Partial Payments of motor vehicle excise bills are not accepted. Since the law states that as interest and charges accrue, they become part of the bill; therefore, payment will only be accepted if all fees and charges are included with payment.

No. Interest starts to accrue the day after the due date.

No. Bills are considered paid when received in the Collector’s Office. Postmark dates on envelopes are not accepted as the date of payment. All payments are to be received by the Collector’s office by the due date.  Late payments will incur interest/penalties.

The tax you paid at the Registry of Motor Vehicles is a Massachusetts Sales Tax. The bill you recently received is an Excise tax bill. This excise tax bill must be paid as well.

Step 1 – Motor Vehicle Tax commitment is mailed

As stated in the FAQ above, Motor Vehicle excise tax bills are mailed out via commitments received by the Registry of Motor Vehicles. Your Motor Vehicle excise tax bill is due 30 days from date of issuance. 

Step 2 – Demand Bill

Demand bills may be issued 2 days after the tax is due; Demand bills will be issued on or around the fourteenth day of delinquency from the due date. Demand bills are due fourteen days after issuance.

The demand charge is currently $10.00, and your bill will continue to accrue interest until paid.

Step 3 – Warrant stage

If payment is not made within fourteen days of the demand, the collector will issue a warrant to collect to Kelley & Ryan, deputy collector, the charge for which is $10. The deputy collector will then send a notice of his warrant to the taxpayer, the charge for which is $12.

Upon failure to pay within 30 days of the notice of warrant, the deputy collector will make a service of warrant, the charge for which is $17.

Step 4 – MV Marking at the RMV

If the excise continues to be outstanding, the deputy collector notifies the Registrar of Motor Vehicles within a two-year period after the initial excise tax was issued. The Registry of Motor Vehicles will then mark or place in non-renewal status the license and registration of the taxpayer. The fee for removal of the mark at the Registry of Motor Vehicles is $20.