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How to pay your boat excise tax

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Boston residents who own a vessel registered in Massachusetts are subject to an excise tax each year. You have three options to make your payment:

Step
1

Get your bill in the mail before submitting online

If it applies to you, you need to pay Boat Excise tax to get approved for a Boat Mooring Permit. We send out boat excise tax bills at the beginning of each year.

At the end of each fiscal year, we receive a list of vessel owners who registered their boats in Boston as well as those who moored their vessel in Boston. We use both lists to find out who needs to pay an excise tax for their boat.

If you paid your excise tax in another town or City, please send us proof and we’ll waive the excise tax. Learn more about boat mooring permits, and how to file an excise tax abatement.

By law, we determine a boat’s value according to its length and age. A tax rate of $10 for every thousand dollars of value is used to calculate boat excise amounts.

For more information, we created a page all about motor vehicle and boat taxes.

Step
2

Pay your bill online

You can pay your excise tax through our online payment system. You need to enter your last name and the bill number.

Step
1

Get your bill in the mail before calling

If it applies to you, you need to pay Boat Excise tax to get approved for a Boat Mooring Permit. We send out boat excise tax bills at the beginning of each year.

At the end of each fiscal year, we receive a list of vessel owners who registered their boats in Boston as well as those who moored their vessel in Boston. We use both lists to find out who needs to pay an excise tax for their boat.

If you paid your excise tax in another town or City, please send us proof and we’ll waive the excise tax. Learn more about boat mooring permits, and how to file an excise tax abatement.

By law, we determine a boat’s value according to its length and age. A tax rate of $10 for every thousand dollars of value is used to calculate boat excise amounts.

For more information, we created a page all about motor vehicle and boat taxes.

Step
2

Call the City

Please note:

You will need your bill number to pay by phone. It can be found on your bill next to the ward and parcel numbers.  If the bill number is less than 6 digits, you will need to add leading zeros.

You can pay over the phone using an interactive voice response operator by calling 855-731-9898. We accept payments made using a credit or debit card, or a checking account. Our pay-by-phone system is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Step
1

Get your bill in the mail

If it applies to you, you need to pay Boat Excise tax to get approved for a Boat Mooring Permit. We send out boat excise tax bills at the beginning of each year.

At the end of each fiscal year, we receive a list of vessel owners who registered their boats in Boston as well as those who moored their vessel in Boston. We use both lists to find out who needs to pay an excise tax for their boat.

If you paid your excise tax in another town or City, please send us proof and we’ll waive the excise tax. Learn more about boat mooring permits, and how to file an excise tax abatement.

By law, we determine a boat’s value according to its length and age. A tax rate of $10 for every thousand dollars of value is used to calculate boat excise amounts.

For more information, we created a page all about motor vehicle and boat taxes.

Step
2

Mail us your payment

You can pay with a check or money order made payable to the City of Boston. Remember to cut off the bottom part of your bill and send that with your payment.

Please mail the bottom part of your bill and payment to:

City of Boston
P.O. Box 55809
Boston, MA 02205
Step
1

Get your bill in the mail before visiting City Hall

If it applies to you, you need to pay Boat Excise tax to get approved for a Boat Mooring Permit. We send out boat excise tax bills at the beginning of each year.

At the end of each fiscal year, we receive a list of vessel owners who registered their boats in Boston as well as those who moored their vessel in Boston. We use both lists to find out who needs to pay an excise tax for their boat.

If you paid your excise tax in another town or City, please send us proof and we’ll waive the excise tax. Learn more about boat mooring permits, and how to file an excise tax abatement.

By law, we determine a boat’s value according to its length and age. A tax rate of $10 for every thousand dollars of value is used to calculate boat excise amounts.

For more information, we created a page all about motor vehicle and boat taxes.

Step
2

Pay your bill at Boston City Hall

At City Hall, you can pay with cash, a check, or a money order. Please bring your payment and your bill to:

Boston City Hall, 1 City Hall Square
Mezzanine Level, Window 31
Boston, MA 02201
Office hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Step
3

Or visit the City Hall to Go Truck

Please remember to bring your payment and your bill. Find out when the truck is in your neighborhood.

Boat excise abatements

An abatement is a reduction in your excise taxes. You can file a boat excise abatement for a couple of different reasons, including if:

  • your boat was traded, stolen, or sold during the year it was taxed and the registration was properly canceled
  • you moored your boat in another Massachusetts city or town, or
  • you moved to another state.

Learn how to file an excise abatement.

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