Abatement Tax Tip Facts
Download and print (PDF) Updated 3/13/17
CONTACT YOUR CITY OR TOWN
ASSESSORS OFFICE FIRST!
* Payment of property tax bills are required to be in the collectors office by the due date to insure your option of appeal to the state appellate tax board. This stipulation applies only to tax bills over $5,000.
** Mailing postmark date option applies to abatement application only, not to payment of property tax bill.
- Abatement applications are available at all city and town assessors
office, or for your convenience, click on an abatement application here:
https://www.mass.gov/lists/property-tax-forms-and-guides
An approved Department of Revenue tax abatement form is required
by law for filing. Some towns have customized abatement forms.
Check with your local assessors’ office as to which form they require.
- Applications for abatements are normally required to be filed by the
due date of the first actual bill for the year. In communities that
have quarterly tax bills the application is due with the communities
3rd quarter bill which normally will be due February 1st.
- To determine if a bill is an actual tax bill or an estimated bill
the taxpayer should look for an assessed value on their property and
a designated tax-rate on their bill.
- The application is required to be filed and signed by the assessed
owner, current owner or agent only. Under certain circumstances other
parties with an interest in the property may file, contact your assessors
office for any special rules that may apply.
- Applications must be in the assessors possession by the close of business
on the due date if not mailed.
- The mailing of applications must be postmarked by the US Postal Service
no later than the due date.
- The mailing of applications must be addressed directly to the city
or town assessors office in order to comply with the “assessors
possession” criterion.
- Contacting your city or town assessors office first is the most important
step a taxpayer can make because “special circumstances may apply”
to any and all tax bills that are mailed to you from any one of the
351 cities or towns.
- To possibly view your current city or town property tax assessment and compare your property with other similar properties check with your community's municipal website.