Real estate is the physical land and improvements affixed to it. Massachusetts statutes require Assessors to assess all property at its full and fair cash value as of January 1st each year.
Full and fair cash value is also known as market value, or the price a willing buyer will pay a willing seller for property when both are considered knowledgeable about the market and under no outside influence to buy or sell.
Assessors do not create the market. The Assessors review sales on an annual basis and may make 'interim adjustments' to property assessments on a town wide basis every year. Assessments must meet a market ratio of between 90% and 110%. Every three years a full revaluation is conducted and the Assessors are required to submit these values to the Massachusetts Department of Revenue for certification. Assessors analyze and review actual property transactions to determine assessed values. By law, the real estate market determines property assessments.
Property Assessments are listed each year on the third quarter tax bill (due February 1st). The first two payments are preliminary tax payments based on the prior year's taxes paid. The notice of the third quarter tax bill referred to as the 'actual bill' is usually issued at the end of December. The Assessors strongly encourage every taxpayer review this assessment annually. This is the only period when an appeal can be filed.
Tax Bills consist of two preliminary bills issued in July and October. When the tax rate is set, usually in the late fall, the total taxes are computed by deducting the amount of the two preliminary bills and splitting the balance. These two amounts are issued usually by January 1 and April 1 of each year. Do not multiply any payments due by four to calculate a total tax for the year.
IMPORTANT TAX INFORMATION- PLEASE REREMEMBER THAT THE TAX COLLECTOR HAS REDUCED THE TAX BILL MAILINGS FROM FOUR TO TWO. THE BILL DUE AUGUST 1 WILL ALSO CONTAIN THE BILL DUE NOVEMBER 1. THE NEXT BILL MAILING WILL BE AT THE END OF DECEMBER WITH A BILL DUE FEBRUARY 1, 2009 AND A BILL DUE MAY 1, 2009. ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE CALL 617-898-4853.
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