Important Dates & Deadlines

In Massachusetts, the fiscal year begins on July 1 and ends on the following June 30. Property taxes are assessed for the fiscal year (July 1 through June 30) based on the market value of the property as of the previous January 1, plus any improvements up to June 30.

Details

In Massachusetts, the assessment date is January 1. It is the ownership and value of the property on January 1 that is used to determine the assessment.

In addition, any new structures, demolitions, improvements, or alterations that occur between January 1 through June 30 are reflected in the assessment. Any building activity that occurs after June 30 will not be reflected in the assessing records until the next January. The only exception is certain exempt property which has a date of determination as of July 1.

Fiscal Year Calendar of Important Dates

• July 1
  Fiscal Year Begins
  First-quarter preliminary tax bill issued (the first of two equal amounts; estimated tax bills are based on the PRIOR fiscal year taxes plus the forecasted tax increase up to a maximum of 2 and a half percent)
• August 1
  First-quarter preliminary tax bill due
• October 1
  Second-quarter preliminary tax bill issued (the second of two equal amounts; estimated tax bills are based on the PRIOR fiscal year taxes plus the forecasted tax increase up to a minimum of 2 and a half percent)
  Chapter Land applications filing deadline
• November 1
  Second-quarter preliminary tax bill due
• Late December
  Third-quarter actual tax bill issued (bill reflects the actual assessed value and tax rate for the fiscal year)
  Circuit Breaker Match applications must be received by the last business day of the calendar year
• January 1
  Property Tax Assessment Date
  Real Estate and Personal Property Abatement filing period begins
  The filing period for personal exemptions begins (elderly, blind, surviving spouse, disabled veteran, etc.)
• February 1
  Third-quarter tax bill due
  Real Estate and Personal Property Abatement application filing period ends
• February through May
  Board of Assessors reviews Abatement and Exemption applications
• March 1
  Filing deadline for owners of taxable Personal Property to file their annual Form of List
  Filing deadline for charitable organizations to file Form 3ABC
• April 1
  Filing deadline for Personal Exemption applications
  Fourth-quarter tax bills issued (bill reflects the actual assessed value and tax rate for the fiscal year)
• May 1
  Fourth-quarter tax bill due
• June 30
  Fiscal year ends