Excise Tax

Boston has a long history of freedom and revolt against unfair taxation.

So I was very saddened when I received mail from the City of Somerville today with an excise tax for having a car.

What? I would have expected that after the success resulting from the stamp tax revolts, Bostonians to have gotten rid of the motor vehicle and trailer excise tax next.

I guess the thing that really riles me up is that Boston is definitely the worst place I have ever driven in my life. And it's not just the traffic. There are potholes all over the place. I practically need a 4-wheel drive car to navigate the roads here.

So the way that excise tax here in Massachusetts works is that every year, you have to pay a certain percentage of the original value as determined by the manufacturer. Any cars over four years old are charged a tax equal to .25% of the original cost. Every year. At least I don't have to pay the 2.25% tax for new cars.

So if I get a new Porsche 911 GT2 RS for $245,000 (I'm saving up for it...) this year, I pay $5512 in taxes that first year, and then 20 years later, I am still paying $612 every year to drive on terrible roads with awful traffic.

Basically, after 23 years of having a car, I have paid 10% of the original price as excise tax.

That makes me sick.

I think it's time to throw some excise tax collectors into the harbor.

Who's with me?