How often do I pay real estate taxes?
The Real Estate Tax Bills are due quarterly. The bills are mailed out twice a year and include 2 billing periods in each mailing; the City runs on a fiscal year July 1-June 30.
1st quarter due August 1
2nd quarter due November 1
3rd quarter due February 1
4th quarter due May 1
When is the motor vehicle excise taxes due?
All of the information regarding the motor vehicle excise bills come directly from the Registry of Motor Vehicles. The RMV sends out between 10-15 mailings a year; the first and largest mailing usually goes out in February. If you need to correct any information on your bill, you must contact the RMV. If you are receiving a bill on a car you no longer own, please contact the Assessor's office to inquire about an abatement.
Can I pay my bill online?
Real estate tax bills, motor vehicle excise bills, boat excise bills and water/sewer bills can be paid online as long as the bill is current. You will need your current bill number, if you have misplaced the bill, please contact us at (508) 821-1054 and we will be happy to look up the bill number for you. Unibank accepts Mastercard and Discover as well as payment through your checking account.
Can I pay my bill over the telephone?
No, you cannot pay your bill over the telephone, the Collector's office does not have credit card access available.
When does interest start to accrue on my bill?
Interest starts accruing the day after the due date.
What happens if my check is returned?
For whatever reason your payment is returned to us from the bank: you put a stop payment, insufficient funds or if you use an incorrect account or routing number online, your payment is automatically reversed from your account, a $25 fee is added to your bill and a letter is sent out. The City does not redeposit returned checks.
What happens if I cannot pay my real estate taxes?
If a balance remains on your real estate taxes as of May 15, a demand bill is mailed, which includes a $25.00 fee along with interest. If the demand bill is still not paid, the Collector's office will send out a letter indicating when it will be advertised in the newspaper and eventually a lien will be placed on the property, a Tax Taking. The lien is recorded at the Registry of Deeds including additional fees; at this point all inquiries should be made with the Treasurer's office ( 508) 821-1057.
What is a Tax Taking?
A Tax Taking is a real estate tax lien recorded on your property due to the failure to pay taxes.
What happens if I cannot pay my excise taxes?
If a balance remains on your excise bill past the demand stage, all payments and inquires should be made to the Deputy Collector, Kelley & Ryan, who is located at the Registry of Motor Vehicles and can be reached at (800) 491-9788.
Why did my real estate bill get mailed to me, when my taxes are escrowed?
By law, we mail the bill to the homeowner; it is their responsibility to make sure their bank/mortgage company receives the information.
Why does my bill have the former owners name on it?
The law states that the assessed owner of record as of January 1 of that fiscal year must appear on the bill. If you are a new owner, you can request to have your name added to the bill by contacting the Assessor's office at (508) 821-1011.
Why doesn't my bill show my abatement or exemption?
The Assessor's apply all abatement or exemptions after the bills have been processed, so the amount will not reflect your reduction. The total exemption is split between the February and May bill, you can not use the entire exemption on the February bill. If you have questions regarding what is due after receiving an abatement or exemption, please contact us at (508) 821-1054.
Who did I contact if I feel there is a problem or have a question with my bill?
If you have a question about a payment or an amount currently due, contact the Collector's office at (508) 821-1054.
If you have questions about a tax taking, contact the Treasurer's office at (508) 821-1057.
If you have a question about the real estate tax assessed value, contact the Assessors at (508) 821-1011.
If you have a question about your water/sewer bill, contact the Water department at (508) 821-1045
If you have a question about your motor vehicle excise valuation, contact the Registry of Motor Vehicles.
How much is a Municipal Lien Certificate?
$50 single-3 units
$100 4-8 units
$150 commercial
You must include a self addressed stamped envelope to return the completed MLC.
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