An Act To Base the Motor Vehicle Excise Tax on the Purchase Price of the Motor Vehicle
Sec. 1. 36 MRSA §1482, sub-§1, ¶C, as amended by PL 2011, c. 646, §3, is further amended to read:
(1) On new registrations of automobiles, trucks and truck tractors, the excise tax payment must be made prior to registration and is for a one-year period from the date of registration.
(2) Vehicles registered under the International Registration Plan are subject to an excise tax determined on a monthly proration basis if their registration period is less than 12 months.
(3) For commercial vehicles manufactured in model year 1996 and after, the amount of excise tax due for trucks or truck tractors registered for more than 26,000 pounds and for Class A special mobile equipment, as defined in Title 29-A, section 101, subsection 70, is based on the purchase price in the original year of title rather than on the list price. Verification of purchase price for the application of excise tax is determined by the initial bill of sale or the state sales tax document provided at point of purchase. The initial bill of sale is that issued by the dealer to the initial purchaser of a new vehicle.
(4) For buses manufactured in model year 2006 and after, the amount of excise tax due is based on the purchase price in the original year of title rather than on the list price. Verification of purchase price for the application of excise tax is determined by the initial bill of sale or the state sales tax document provided at point of purchase. The initial bill of sale is that issued by the dealer to the initial purchaser of a new vehicle.
For motor vehicles being registered pursuant to Title 29-A, section 405, subsection 1, paragraph C, the excise tax must be prorated for the number of months in the registration.
SUMMARY
This bill changes the method of computing the excise tax that is levied on motor vehicles and camper trailers registered in the State.
With the exception of certain commercial motor vehicles and buses and special mobile equipment, current law requires that the excise tax be based upon the maker's list price for the motor vehicle; the excise tax on certain commercial motor vehicles and buses and special mobile equipment is based on the purchase price.
This bill requires that the excise tax for all motor vehicles and camper trailers be based upon the purchase price of the vehicle and defines "purchase price" as the actual amount of money financed or paid by the consumer after any rebates or discounts. Either the original bill of sale or the state sales tax document may be used to verify the purchase price.