The Assessor's Office Keeps records which are
available for public viewing, including: Tax Maps, individual property assessing
information, and copies of Deeds (back to 1980, which are free to homeowners).
The Assessor's Office is responsible for
listing and valuing all real and personal property. Assessed values are
based on "full and fair cash value", or 100% of fair market value. Assessors do
not raise or lower taxes, or set the tax rate. Assessors reassess values
each year so that the property taxpayer pays his or her fair share of the cost
of local government, in proportion to the amount of money the property is worth.
Property and Excise Tax Bills are issued by the
Tax Collector. Property Tax bills are based
on a Fiscal Year (July1 to June 30), and are issued on a Quarterly basis (4
times per year).
To lookup or search Townsend's property records, Click Here
Were you looking for the
Board Of Assessors?
Real Estate Tax Abatement Applications For FY 11 must be received by the
Assessors' Office
no later than February 1, 2011
The Real Estate Tax Bill you received the first week of
January 2011 includes the Payment Vouchers for the February and May quarterly
payments. Return the top voucher with your February payment and the bottom
voucher with your May payment. The Assessors office will not mail
additional vouchers for May payments.
The Assessor is required
by State law to use comparable property valuations from Calendar Year 2009, in
setting property assessments for Fiscal Year 2011.
If
you disagree with the valuation of your property, you may file for a Tax
Abatement, which must be done within 30 days of the receipt of the First Actual
Tax Bill of the Fiscal Year, which usually issues in early January.
If you believe there is an error on your tax
bill, you can contact the Assessor, who may visit your property to verify your
conditions.
You may Qualify for a Tax Exemption.
Massachusetts Provides tax exemptions for Elderly (over 70), Veterans, Blind
Persons, and surviving Spouse/Minor Children of a Police Officer or Firefighter
killed in the line of duty.
Seniors may also qualify for an Elderly (over
65) Tax Deferral, or for the "Circuit Breaker " Tax Credit. The
"Circuit Breaker" Tax Credit allows Homeowners and Renters who are age 65 before
January 1, 2002, to claim a Tax Credit for a part of their Real Estate Taxes
paid, on their Massachusetts Income Tax Return. For more information on
conditions and limitations, contact the Council on Aging or consult your tax
professional. This Credit is claimed on your State Income
Tax Return.
Seniors may also qualify for the Tax Work-Off Program, where the
Real Estate Tax owed may be reduced by up to $500, by working at the Town Hall
in a variety of clerical positions.. For more information, please
fill out the Tax Work-Off Application and bring it
to the Assessors' Office.
Need more information about
Tax Abatement, Tax Exemption and
other Tax Relief?
Want to obtain copy of your
Deed?
Want to declare your
property a
Homestead?
Declaration
of Homestead (1 page .pdf, 55 Kb)
Follow this link for more information on Declaring a
Homestead
Declaration of Homestead Elderly
(1 page .pdf, 55 Kb) Follow this link for more
information on Declaring a
Homestead
Application for Abatement of Real
Property or Personal Property Tax (2 page .pdf,
103 Kb) Follow this link for more information on
Tax Relief
Application
for Abatement of Motor Vehicle and Trailer Excise (1 page .pdf, 50 Kb)
Follow this link for more information on
Tax Relief
Application
for Statutory Exemption (4 page .pdf, 180 Kb)
Follow this link for more information on
Tax Relief
