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Level 1
posted Apr 6, 2020 9:29:52 AM

Are registration fees the same as our annual'motor vehicle excise' tax in MA??

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6 Replies
Expert Alumni
Apr 6, 2020 9:51:36 AM

The IRS only allows that portion of a state registration fee that is based on the value of the vehicle to be included toward your other itemized deductions. 

 

For Massachusetts registered vehicles, the amount eligible for the vehicle registration fee deduction is simply the excise tax itself, not the whole amount of the cost of registration.

 

To report vehicle registration fees, follow these steps.

  • Down the left side of the screen, click Federal.
  • Across the top of the screen, click Deductions & credits.
  • Scroll down to Car registration fees.  Click Start/Edit.

 

 

Level 1
Apr 9, 2020 5:04:04 AM

You are not answering my question... it is a yes or no question. My wife and I each year  pay a vehicle tax bill from Mass called "motor vehicle excise". Turbo does not have anything called "motor vehicle excise tax". My question is: what Turbo calls "vehicle registration fee" the SAME as our state motor vehicle excise tax and I enter what we paid in excise tax INTO the vehicle registration fee fields.  Yes = enter what you both paid for car excise tax into this vehicle registration fee field or NO = vehicle excise tax and vehicle registration fees are NOT the same thing. Thanks - Mark 

Expert Alumni
Apr 9, 2020 7:08:11 AM

Yes.  In Massachusetts, the Motor Vehicle Excise Taxes you paid on your vehicles are considered to be registration fees.

Please see the TurboTax Help article Is my car registration fee deductible? for more information.

Level 3
Feb 4, 2022 4:24:46 PM

Here for the same question in 2022 (for my 2021 taxes).

 

I have the same question that the response doesn't exactly clarify.  Scenario, we moved to MA in 2021.   We registered our vehicles at the DMV - paid $60 each vehicle (not including additional title, license, etc).   

 

Later in the year, we received our Excise Tax bill for the vehicles based on age.

 

The question is - do I only enter my vehicle excise tax, or do I add the registration costs for initial registration? 

Expert Alumni
Feb 4, 2022 5:02:43 PM

You only enter your vehicle excise tax.

 

If it is called "TAX" it is a tax and YES you can deduct that. 

The vehicle excise tax bill may list the age of the vehicle, but a tax is ALWAYS based on VALUE. 

The $60 FEE would not be included. 

Level 3
Feb 4, 2022 7:07:54 PM

Ah yes!  Thanks for the clarification and response.   I did mean based on value not “age” as I typed.   Appreciate it!