An Act to Create Fairness in Maine's Motor Vehicle Excise Tax by Basing the Tax on the Sale Price
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 1381
Committee: Taxation
Sponsors: GUERIN, SMITH, BRAKEY, KEIM, LIBBY, LYFORD, MOORE, STEWART, TIMBERLAKE
Amends: 29-A MRSA §533-A, 36 MRSA §1482

Legislative Document
No. 1381
S.P. 546
In Senate, March 28, 2023
An Act to Create Fairness in Maine's Motor Vehicle Excise Tax by 
Basing the Tax on the Sale Price
Reference to the Committee on Taxation suggested and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator GUERIN of Penobscot.
Cosponsored by Representative SMITH of Palermo and
Senators: BRAKEY of Androscoggin, KEIM of Oxford, LIBBY of Cumberland, LYFORD of 
Penobscot, MOORE of Washington, STEWART of Aroostook, TIMBERLAKE of 
Androscoggin.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  29-A MRSA §533-A, sub-§3, ¶A, as amended by PL 2011, c. 646, §1, is 
further amended to read:
A.  Between July 1st and October 31st, the Secretary of State shall disburse to a 
participating municipality a sum equal to the difference in the amount of excise tax that 
would have been collected by that municipality in the prior fiscal year on each 
commercial motor vehicle or bus under Title 36, section 1482, subsection 1, paragraph 
C, subparagraph (3) or (4) using the manufacturer's suggested retail price from the 
amount of that excise tax actually collected by that municipality in the prior fiscal year 
based on the actual purchase price.  The Secretary of State shall provide supporting 
documentation to a municipality regarding the disbursement that municipality receives 
under this section.
Sec. 2.  36 MRSA §1482, sub-§1, ¶C, as amended by PL 2013, c. 263, §1, is further 
amended to read:
C.  For the privilege of operating a motor vehicle, including a commercial motor 
vehicle as defined in Title 29-A, section 101, subsection 17, paragraphs A and B and 
special mobile equipment as defined in Title 29-A, section 101, subsection 70, 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), (4) or (5):  a sum equal to 24 mills on each dollar of the 
maker's list purchase price for the first or current year of model, 17 1/2 mills for the 
2nd year, 13 1/2 mills for the 3rd year, 10 mills for the 4th year, 6 1/2 mills for the 5th 
year and 4 mills 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.
(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.
(5)  For trucks or truck tractors registered for more than 26,000 pounds that have 
been reconstructed using a prepackaged kit that may include a frame, front axle or 
body but does not include a power train or engine and for which a new certificate 
of title is required to be issued, the amount of excise tax due is based on the maker's 
list price of the prepackaged kit.
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.
Sec. 3.  36 MRSA §1482, sub-§4, as amended by PL 2013, c. 263, §2, is further 
amended to read:
4.  Maker's list price.  The maker's list price of a vehicle to be used must be obtained 
from sources approved by the State Tax Assessor, except for a truck or truck tractor 
described under subsection 1, paragraph C, subparagraph (5).  When the maker's list price 
of a vehicle is not readily obtainable the State Tax Assessor shall prescribe the maker's list 
price to be used or the manner in which the maker's list price is determined.
A.  At the time of payment of the excise tax prior to a new registration for a new 
passenger vehicle purchased from a motor vehicle dealer licensed in any state for the 
sale of new passenger vehicles, the owner shall submit the manufacturer's suggested 
retail price sticker, or a copy of the sticker, to the excise tax collector.  In the case of 
rental and fleet vehicles, other documentation may be provided at the discretion of the 
municipal excise tax collector.
This paragraph applies only to those vehicles for which a manufacturer's suggested 
retail price sticker is required by the Federal Government.
SUMMARY
This bill changes the method of computing the excise tax that is levied on motor 
vehicles, special mobile equipment and camper trailers registered in the State.
With the exception of certain commercial motor vehicles, 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, buses and special 
mobile equipment is based on the purchase price. This bill requires that the excise tax for 
all motor vehicles, special mobile equipment and camper trailers be based upon the 
purchase price of the vehicle, equipment or trailer.  Either the original bill of sale or the 
state sales tax document may be used to verify the purchase price.
Current law also requires the State to reimburse a municipality for the difference in the 
amount of excise tax that would have been collected by the municipality on each 
commercial motor vehicle or bus using the manufacturer's suggested retail price instead of 
the actual purchase price. This bill applies that requirement to all vehicles registered and 
taxed by the municipality using the actual purchase price.