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1. I no longer reside in Needham. Do I still have to pay this bill?

You must pay motor vehicle excise to the city or town you resided in on January 1st. Residency is based on the Registry of Motor Vehicles registration records as of January 1st. You are not entitled to an abatement if you move to another Massachusetts city or town during the calendar year.

If you move out of Massachusetts and register your vehicle in another state and cancel your Massachusetts registration, you can file an application for abatement. A copy of the new out-of-state registration and Plate Return Receipt from the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles is required to file for an abatement.

2. I no longer own this vehicle. Do I still have to pay this bill?

If you no longer own the vehicle and the registration was cancelled or transferred to another vehicle, you may file an application for abatement. If the vehicle was sold, traded-in, donated, junked or repossessed, a copy of the bill of sale, donation/junkyard receipt, or lien holder notice is required to file an application for abatement.  If the vehicle was stolen or involved in an automobile accident and your insurance company considered it a total loss, a copy of the settlement letter is required to file an application for abatement.  

3. I took my car off the road and cancelled my registration. Do I still have to pay this bill?

You are not entitled to an abatement if you cancel your registration and retain ownership of the vehicle. It should be noted, however, that bills will not be generated in subsequent tax years unless the vehicle is once again registered with the Registry of Motor Vehicles.