Understanding Massachusetts Property Taxes and Key Dates for Filing an Appeal
May 3, 2019Massachusetts Property Taxes at a Glance: Here are some interesting facts and figures to help you understand property taxes and filing deadlines in Massachusetts.
The median property tax in Massachusetts is $3,511.00 per year for a home worth the median value of $338,500.00. Counties in Massachusetts collect an average of 1.04% of a property’s assessed fair market value as property tax per year.
Massachusetts has one of the highest property tax rates in the nation, with only 5 states surpassing it. Massachusetts’ median income is $83,915 per year, so the median yearly property tax paid by Massachusetts residents is 4.18% of their yearly income. Massachusetts is ranked 9th of the 50 states for property taxes as a percentage of median income.
The exact property tax levied depends on the county in Massachusetts the property is located in. Middlesex County collects the highest property tax in Massachusetts, levying an average of $4,356.00 (1.04% of median home value) yearly in property taxes, while Berkshire County has the lowest property tax in the state, collecting an average tax of $2,386.00 (1.15% of median home value) per year. (Source: tax-rates.org)
How Property Taxes are Assessed in Massachusetts
In Massachusetts, property taxes are collected on a county-by-county basis, and each has its own method for assessing and collecting property tax. Due to this variability, there is no single property tax rate applicable to all properties within the state.
Exact property tax rates vary by country and are determined by the local property tax assessor’s office. Median property taxes for each county are provided below:
| Barnstable | $2,570 |
| Berkshire | $2,386 |
| Bristol | $2,752 |
| Dukes | $2,850 |
| Essex | $3,719 |
| Franklin | $2,968 |
| Hampden | $2,735 |
| Hampshire | $3,140 |
| Middlesex | $4,356 |
| Nantucket | $2,823 |
| Norfolk | $4,157 |
| Plymouth | $3,670 |
| Suffolk | $3,009 |
| Worcester | $3,117 |
Appealing a Property Tax Assessment
If you are a Massachusetts property owner and believe your property tax assessment to be inaccurate (over or undervalued), you may request a meeting with your county tax assessor. Present the facts of your case—including your reason for challenging the assessment tax amount—to your assessor’s office in writing.
If you are a Massachusetts property owner and believe your property tax assessment to be inaccurate (over or undervalued), you may request a meeting with your county tax assessor. Present the facts of your case—including your reason for challenging the assessment tax amount—to your assessor’s office in writing.
Most appeals are handled within a month of receipt. If the result of the county assessor’s re-evaluation does not satisfy your concerns, you may challenge your property tax before a state Appellate Tax Board. (Note: The link also provides information on where you must present your appeal.)
If you believe you have cause to appeal your home’s assessed value or believe your property taxes are unduly high due to an assessment error, Home Tax Savings can help.
Home Tax Savings will provide you with a COST FREE assessment to help you determine whether your property has been overvalued, and whether your appeal is worth pursuing. We base our assessment on a careful analysis of property sales in your neighborhood to see how your home compares. If we find that an appeal would not be in your best interests, you pay nothing.
Home Tax Savings will provide you with a COST FREE assessment to help you determine whether your property has been overvalued, and whether your appeal is worth pursuing. We base our assessment on a careful analysis of property sales in your neighborhood to see how your home compares. If we find that an appeal would not be in your best interests, you pay nothing.
Contact Home Tax Savings today and learn what how much we can save for you.
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About HomeTaxSavings.com
HomeTaxSavings.com is wholly owned by Assessment Solutions, LLC and was established in 2016 as the nation’s first fully automated and integrated real estate assessment review and appeal system. The principals of HomeTaxSavings.com have worked in the real estate and IT world for over 100 years. Founders Keith McIntosh, Stuart Smith, Rachel Brown and Mandeep Sandhu possess a vast knowledge of the industry with many years of experience. The group is gaining wide popularity having covered The District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, Texas, Colorado, Georgia, Florida, California and Washington.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational and educational purposes only. The HomeTaxSavings.com website is not a market value appraisal, rather it is an assessment tool.