An Act To Allow a Trade-in Credit in the Calculation of the Automobile Excise Tax
Maine Legislature, Session 122, LD 0571
Committee: Taxation
Sponsors: COWGER, RINES, DAMON, NASS, ROTUNDO, STRIMLING, TURNER, MARLEY, MOODY, RECTOR
Amends: 36 MRSA §1482

Legislative Document 
No. 571 
S.P. 179 
In Senate, February 3, 2005 
An Act To Allow a Trade-in Credit in the Calculation of the 
Automobile Excise Tax 
Reference to the Committee on Taxation suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Senator COWGER of Kennebec. 
Cosponsored by Representative RINES of Wiscasset and 
JOY J. O'BRIEN 
Secretary of the Senate 
Senators: DAMON of Hancock, NASS of York, ROTUNDO of Androscoggin, STRIMLING 
of Cumberland, TURNER of Cumberland, Representatives: MARLEY of Portland, MOODY 
of Manchester, RECTOR of Thomaston. 
Printed on recycled paper 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 36 MRSA §1482, sub-§l, llC, as amended by PL 2001, c. 
671, §32, is further amended to read: 
C. 
For the privilege of operating a motor vehicle or camper 
trailer on the public ways, each motor vehicle, other than a 
stock race car, or each camper trailer to be so operated is 
subject to excise tax as follows, except as specified in 
subparagraph (3): 
a sum equal to 24 mills on each dollar of 
the adjusted maker's list price for the first or current 
year of model, 17 112 mills on each dollar of the adjusted 
maker's list--11.I...Lce for the 2nd year, 13 112 mills on eacb 
dollar of the adjusted maker's list price for the 3rd year, 
mills on each dollar of the aqiusted maker's list Nice 
for the 4th year, 6 1/2 mills on each dollar of the adjusted 
maker's list price for the 5th year and 4 mills on each 
dollar of the adjusted maker's list price for the 6th and 
succeeding years. 
The minimum tax is $5 for a motor vehicle 
other 
than 
a 
bicycle with motor 
attached, 
$2.50 
for 
a 
bicycle with motor attached, $15 for a camper trailer other 
than a tent trailer and $5 for a tent trailer. 
The excise 
tax 
on 
a 
stock 
race car is $5. 
For purposes of this 
paragraph, "adjusted maker's list price" means the maker's 
list price of the motor vehicle less any amount received for 
another motor vehicle being traded in toward the purchase of 
the motor vehicle being registered. 
(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 
determined 
on 
a 
monthly 
proration 
basis 
registration period is less than 12 months. 
excise 
if 
tax 
their 
(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. 
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 reduces the base value of a new motor vehicle for 
registration excise tax purposes to the maker's list price of the 
new motor vehicle less the amount received for any trade-in of 
another motor vehicle.