Contact Regarding:
Motor Vehicle Excise Tax Bills & Abatements
Personal Property, Tax Assessments, Abatements, & Exemptions
Real Estate Tax Maps
Special Agricultural Real Estate Tax Programs (CH 61, 61A, & 61B)

Office Hours:
Standard Town Hall Business Hours

Meetings:
Meets twice monthly - dates and times vary, contact the office for meeting times.

General Information:
Not available at this time

Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: What Real Estate tax exemptions does the town offer?
A: The Town currently offers three standard real estate tax exemptions

-Clause 41 – The applicant must be 70 years old or older by the start of the fiscal year (July 1st) and have less than $9,165.00 in total income if single or $11,748.00 if married. All income sources, including social security and retirement are included in this total. This exemption provides $500.00 off of your taxes

-Clause 22 – The applicant must be a veteran with at least a ten percent service connected disability or have been awarded the Purple Heart or been a prisoner of war. This exemption provides from $250.00 to $600.00 off of your taxes depending on the level of the disability

-Clause 37 – The
applicant must be registered with the Massachusetts
Commission for the Blind as of the start of the fiscal year
(July 1). This exemption provides $437.50 off of your taxes.

The town also offers several other tax exemptions, If you think you may be eligible, please contact our office.

Q: When are Real Estate tax exemptions due?
A: Real estate tax exemptions are due three months after the mailing of the third quarter tax bill. The third quarter tax bills are usually mailed on December 31 which would make the exemption applications due by March 31. Please contact our office for the exact due date.

Q:What is a property tax abatement?
A: An abatement is a reduction is a reduction of property tax. A taxpayer may contest his or her tax liability on the following grounds:

-Overvaluation: the assessed value is too high.
-Disproportionate Assessment: this pertains to entire
property classes.
-Improper Classification: when the property is improperly
classified and the Town has a split tax rate.
-Other: the property may be partially or fully tax exempt

Q: What information will be requested when I file a property tax abatement application?
A: When you are given your abatement application, you will be given an information requisition that needs to be completed and returned with the application. The requisition will vary depending on the type of property the application covers. You should also include any additional information that you have that supports your application. The Board will decide your application based upon the information that you submit with it along with information that we already have.

Q: When are property tax abatement applications due?
A: Real Estate and Personal Property abatement applications are due the same day that the third quarter payment is due. If bills were mailed on or before December 31, abatement applications are due on February 1. If February 1 is not a business day, applications are due on the next business day.

Q: When will I hear about my application?
A: The Assessors have three months from the date your
application was filed to act on it. If the Assessors do not act on your application by this deadline, it is deemed
denied. You will be notified by the Assessors of any action or inaction taken on your application.

Q: How do I appeal the Assessors decision?
A: If you do not agree with the Assessors action, you may file an appeal to the Appellate Tax Board. Please contact the Appellate Tax Board at (617) 727-3100 for information
regarding appeals.

Q: What is a motor vehicle excise tax?
A: Motor vehicle excise tax is a tax imposed under Chapter 60A of the Massachusetts General Laws. Tax bills are sent out by the community in which the vehicle is principally garaged. The Registry of Motor Vehicles prepares the billing information for each city and town based upon information you supplied to it when you registered your car.

Q: Who should file a motor vehicle abatement application?
A: You should file a motor vehicle abatement application if any of the following occurs:

-You have traded in your vehicle and transferred your registration.
-You have sold your vehicle and transferred or canceled your registration.
-You have moved out of state and reregistered your car and canceled your MA registration.
-If you moved out of town prior to the first day the car was registered in the calendar year and you notified the Registry of your address change.

Q: I never received my excise tax bill. How come I still owe the tax?
A: It is the responsibility of the taxpayer to notify the
Registry of Motor Vehicles within thirty days of any change of address. If you fail to notify the Registry of your address change, the tax bill will be sent out by the Town to your old address. Excise tax bills are sometimes mailed out up to eighteen months or more after the start of the calendar year that the excise tax is for. Under Mass General Laws, you are still liable for the tax and any interest and charges that have accrued.

Q: When is the deadline to file a motor vehicle excise tax abatement application?
A: The deadline to file a motor vehicle abatement application is by December 31 of the year following the year for which the excise tax is assessed or thirty days after the mailing of the tax bill, whichever is later.

If you have any additional questions or require any additional information, please contact our office by phone or e-mail.

Forms & Documentation
Please see our Announcements & Notices section for any applicable forms and documentation.

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