Residential Tax Rates Real Estate and Personal Property Tax
The fiscal year 2009 THIRD quarter real estate tax bills were mailed out December 19, 2008. The third quarter payments are due in the Collector’s office by Monday February 2, 2009. Tax bills are mailed to the owner of record as of January 1, 2008. If you purchased property after that date and do not receive a tax bill, please call the Collector’s Office at 978-952-2349. Office hours for walk-in service are Mondays through Fridays 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Please note that the August and November bills were estimated bills based on one-half of the total amount paid in Fiscal Year 2008. The February and May bills reflect the actual residential tax rate for Fiscal Year 2009. The Residential Tax Rate for FY2009 was approved by the Department of Revenue and set at $13.85 per one thousand dollars of valuation, and the Commercial/Industrial/Personal Property Rate was set at $22.76 per thousand dollars of valuation. PLEASE NOTE - Due to an error in the bill file creation process, you may have erroneously received a tax bill that includes interest owed. We have already corrected the issue and removed the interest owed from these accounts. Should you have a question on this issue for your tax bill, please call 978-952-2349. Personal Property tax is defined as: The contents of a business (machinery, equipment, etc.) or property that fits in a summer home (furnishings, etc.). In order to avoid any interest and penalty charges, these taxes must be paid by February 2, 2009.
Community Preservation Act
The 1% real estate surcharge for residential property is assessed and payable each quarter. The first $100,000 of residential value is exempt from the surcharge. Exemptions are also available for those qualifying for low income housing or low/moderate income senior housing. Contact the Assessors Office for more information
Supplemental Tax Assessments on New Construction
If you were issued an occupancy permit any time during the year, 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% of the billed value to real estate. The assessment is based on the value of the improvement, multiplied by the tax rate (currently $13.85 per thousand of valuation for residential) 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’s office by the date specified on the bill.
Anyone who feels that their property is overvalued for Real Estate, Personal Property or 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. Questions/Additional Information
Any questions regarding valuation, abatements or exemptions should be directed to the Assessors Office at 978-952-2309. Office hours for the Assessor’s office are 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. If you would like to view the valuation records for a particular parcel, please go to the Board of Assessors page to a link for Real Property Information.
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 978-952-2349.
Motor Vehicle Excise Tax Bills are usually released in February or March and are for the whole year from January 1st or when the car was registered. If you buy a car during the year you will be assessed from the month the car is registered to the end of the year. This bill can be released anytime during the year or even the next year. If you transfer the plate from one car to a new car, you should apply for an abatement on the first car's excise tax bill. If you are late paying your excise tax bill you will be charged 12% interest from the due date and a $5.00 demand collection fee. If you still do not pay, your bill will be turned over to the Deputy Collector for collection. You must contact the Deputy Collector at (978) 970-1400 if you are marked at the registry before you can renew your license or register a car. Certificates of Municipal Liens in Littleton are $25.00 for any parcel. Betterment Release Certificates are $4.00 |