Bonnie-mae Holston, Finance Director/Town Accountant
Marjorie Corbley-Whittier, Collector-Treasurer
Roger P. Hart, Assessor
Cynthia Bradbury, Assessor
Real Estate and Personal Property Tax
The fiscal year 2004 third and fourth quarter real estate and personal property tax bills were mailed on December 31, 2003. The third quarter payments were due in the Collector/Treasurer’s office on Monday February 2, 2004, and the fourth quarter payments are due in the Collector/Treasurer’s office on Monday May 3, 2004. Tax bills are mailed to the owner of record as of January 1, 2003. If you purchased property after that date and do not receive a tax bill, please call the Collector’s Office at 978-365-9293. Office hours for walk-in service are Mondays 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Tuesday through Thursday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
This bill, unlike the bills paid in August and November, reflects the actual value of the property and the actual tax rate. The August and November bills are estimated bills based on one-half of the total amount paid in Fiscal Year 2003. The tax rate for Fiscal Year 2004 is $16.86 per thousand dollars of valuation.
In order to avoid any interest and penalty charges, these taxes still must be paid by May 3, 2004.
Supplemental Tax Assessments on New Construction
If you were issued an occupany permit after June 30, 2003, state law requires cities and towns to make a pro-rated Real Estate Tax assessment on the value of improvements if they are greater than 50 percent of the billed value to real estate. The assessment is based on the value of the improvement, multiplied by the tax rate (currently $16.86 per thousand of valuation) and pro-rated for the amount of time remaining in the fiscal year.
These Supplemental Tax bills will be mailed to the Owner of Records and are due in the Collector/Treasurer’s office by May 3, 2004.
Anyone who feels that their property is overvalued for Supplemental Tax Assessments has 30 days from the date the bill was mailed to file an application for abatement with the Assessors Office. Please be advised that the filing of the abatement application does not mean that the taxes do not have to be paid. In order to avoid any interest and penalty charges, the taxes still must be paid by the due date.
Any questions regarding valuation, abatements or exemptions should be directed to the Assessors Office at 978-365-9562. Office hours for the Assessor’s office are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Tuesday through Thursday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Property owners are advised to forward these bills to their mortgage companies as soon as possible. According to state law the bills must be mailed to the property owner and it is the owner’s responsibility to see that the mortgage company receives the tax bill.
Any other questions should be directed to the Collector’s office at 978-365-9293.