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Massachusetts State Excise Taxes 2024 - Fuel, Cigarette, and Alcohol Taxes

Gasoline:
24.00¢ per gallon		 Cigarettes:
$3.51 per pack		 Liquor:
$4.05 per gal		 Wine:
55¢ per gal		 Beer:
11¢ per gal

What is an Excise Tax?

An excise tax is a tax directly levied on certain goods by a state or federal government. The most prominent excise taxes collected by the Massachusetts state government are the fuel tax on gasoline and the so-called "sin tax" collected on cigarettes and alcoholic beverages.

An excise tax is not the same thing as the Massachusetts Sales Tax.

The Massachusetts Sales Tax is collected as a percentage of the final purchase price of all qualifying sales, and is collected directly from the end consumer of the product.

Massachusetts' excise taxes, on the other hand, are flat per-unit taxes that must be paid directly to the Massachusetts government by the merchant before the goods can be sold. Merchants may be required to attach tax stamps to taxable merchandise to show that the excise tax was paid.

Even though excise taxes are collected from businesses, virtually all Massachusetts merchants pass on the excise tax to the customer through higher prices for the taxed goods.

Massachusetts per capita excise tax

Massachusetts collects an average of $372 in yearly excise taxes per capita, lower then 72% of the other 50 states.

Massachusetts General Excise Taxes - Gasoline, Cigarettes, and More

Massachusetts collects general excise taxes on the sale of motor fuel (gasoline and diesel), cigarettes (per pack), and cell phone service plans. Other general taxes, similar to excise taxes, may be collected on other items including transportation tickets, gas guzzlers, vehicle sales, firearms, tanning salons, and more.

Gas sales tax in Massachusetts - Massachusetts oil and gasoline excise taxes

Massachusetts Gas Tax

24th highest gas tax

The Massachusetts excise tax on gasoline is 24.00¢ per gallon, higher then 52% of the other 50 states. Massachusetts' excise tax on gasoline is ranked #24 out of the 50 states. The Massachusetts gas tax is included in the pump price at all gas stations in Massachusetts.

Tax on buying cigarettes in Massachusetts - Massachusetts cigarette excise taxes

Massachusetts Cigarette Tax

2nd highest cigarette tax

The Massachusetts excise tax on cigarettes is $3.51 per 20 cigarettes, one of the highest cigarettes taxes in the country. Massachusetts' excise tax on cigarettes is ranked #2 out of the 50 states. The Massachusetts cigarette tax of $3.51 is applied to every 20 cigarettes sold (the size of an average pack of cigarettes). If a pack contains more then 20 cigarettes, a higher excise tax will be collected.

Tax on phone service in Massachusetts - Massachusetts phone taxes

Massachusetts Cellphone Tax

36th highest cellphone tax

The average tax collected on cell phone plans in Massachusetts is $7.81 per phone service plan, lower then 72% of the other 50 states. Massachusetts' average cellphone tax is ranked #36 out of the 50 states. The Massachusetts cellphone tax is already included in the service plan price you pay to your service provider, and may be listed as "Misc. taxes and Fees" or "Other" on your monthly bill.

Automobile / Vehicle Tax In Massachusetts - Massachusetts car road tax

Massachusetts Car Tax

Massachusetts collects a registration fee and a title fee on the sale or transfer of cars and motorcycles, which are essentially renamed excise taxes. Unlike standard excise taxes, however, the end consumer must pay the tax directly to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation and receive documentation (registration and title papers) proving the fees were paid.

Massachusetts Alcohol Excise Taxes - Liquor, Wine, and Beer

Massachusetts collects special excise taxes on the sale of all types of alcohol, subdivided into specific taxes on wine, beer, and liquor (hard alcohol other then wine and beer). Alcohol taxes are sometimes collectively referred to as "sin taxes", which also include excise taxes on cigarettes, gambling, drugs, and certain other items.

Please note that the IRS also collects a federal excise taxes on alcoholic beverages, which are included separately from Massachusetts' alcohol taxes in the final purchase price.

Tax on beer in Massachusetts - Massachusetts beer excise taxes

Massachusetts Beer Tax

44th highest beer tax

The Massachusetts excise tax on beer is $0.11 per gallon, one of the lowest beer taxes in the country. Massachusetts' beer excise tax is ranked #44 out of the 50 states. The Massachusetts beer tax is already added to the purchase price of all beer bought in Massachusetts, whether in kegs, bottles, or cans.

Tax on buying wine in Massachusetts - Massachusetts wine excise taxes

Massachusetts Wine Tax

32nd highest wine tax

The Massachusetts excise tax on Wine is $0.55 per gallon, lower then 64% of the other 50 states. Massachusetts' excise tax on wine is ranked #32 out of the 50 states. The Massachusetts wine tax is already added to the purchase price of all wine bought in Massachusetts.

Tax on buying liquor in Massachusetts - Massachusetts Liquor & Spirits excise taxes

Massachusetts Liquor Tax

34th highest liquor tax

The Massachusetts excise tax on liquor is $4.05 per gallon, lower then 68% of the other 50 states. Massachusetts' excise tax on Spirits is ranked #34 out of the 50 states. Massachusetts state taxes on hard alcohol vary based on alcohol content, place of production, size of container, and place purchased. The Massachusetts liquor tax applies to all hard alcohol (alchoholic beverages other then beer and wine), and is already included in the purchase price by the retailer.

Massachusetts Excise Tax Deductions & Refunds

Can I deduct my Massachusetts Excise taxes?

Unlike the Massachusetts Sales Tax, excise taxes are not generally deductible on Massachusetts income tax returns or on your federal tax return. However, the IRS occasionally allows certain excise taxes to be deducted for certain tax years.

Vehicle Tax Deduction
Massachusetts sales and excise taxes on cars or vehicles bought during 2009 may be deducted once from your federal tax return. You cannot deduct excise taxes for vehicles bought during other years.
Phone Tax Deduction
You may deduct excise taxes paid on long-distance phone calls between the years of 2003 and 2006 from your federal tax return.

Can I get a Massachusetts Excise Tax Refund?

While sales tax refunds are available for goods that are purchased in Massachusetts and exported, Massachusetts excise taxes paid on goods are generally non-refundable. Incentives may exist allowing certain state of federal excise taxes to be refunded on goods bought for specific uses, but such incentives change frequently.

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Massachusetts Excise Tax - References

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