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Address
Newton City Hall
1000 Commonwealth Ave
Newton Centre, MA 02459
617-796-1000
TDD/TTY 617-796-1089
Hours
Monday - Friday
8:30am-5:00pm
Tuesday
8:30am- 8:00pm
Assessment Administration
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Office:
Assessment Administration,
Room 116, City Hall,
1000 Commonwealth Avenue
Newton Centre, MA 02459Phone: (617) 796-1160
FAX: (617) 796-1179Department Head: Elizabeth Dromey dromey@newtonma.gov
Department e-mail: assessing@newtonma.govMonday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Tuesday, 8:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Wednesday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Closed Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.
The mission of Assessment Administration is to value real and personal property efficiently, fairly and accurately, in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts; to administer motor vehicle excise, exemption, and abatement programs; and to address concerns of members of the public quickly and courteously.
The Assessors' Office is responsible for the administration of all laws and regulations regarding property tax assessment. The Assessors, as required by Chapters 59, 60A, 61, 61B, 121A of the Massachusetts General Laws and various Acts of the Legislature, perform the appraisal of approximately 27,000 parcels of property. This includes residential, commercial, industrial, utilities, and personal property. The Assessors process over 70,000 excise tax bills on motor vehicles and boats each year. The Assessors establish the assessed value of property each fiscal year.
You can look up the assessed value of real property in Newton in The Assessors Database. Assessor's FAQ's Frequently Asked Questions The Mayor and Board of Aldermen determine the budget each year. A tax classification hearing is held each year in the Aldermanic Chambers at City Hall. The Board of Aldermen votes to set the tax rate(s) as a result of this hearing. The Assessors then commit to the Treasurer/Collector the amount of taxes to be collected including sewer, street, and sidewalk betterments and water and sewer liens.The Assessors handle requests for abatements and exemptions through the avenues prescribed by the Massachusetts Legislature. The exemptions are for income-eligible elderly, surviving spouse, blind, infirm, and hardship cases.
This Department also is responsible for preparing cases for hearing and defending property values before the Massachusetts Appellate Tax Board and for reporting all sales within the City to the Massachusetts Department of Revenue. The Assessors' Office works daily with the inquiries of taxpayers, planners, developers, builders, real estate professionals and others. The Assessors coordinate the revaluation process to comply with the laws of the Commonwealth and to achieve a sound base for fiscal planning within the City.
As approved by state law, the Board of Assessors administers tax assistance programs for various eligible taxpayers. These programs are summarized below. Additional information and the necessary application can be obtained by contacting the Department of Assessment Administration at 617-796-1160.
Applications for fiscal 2010 will be available July 31, 2009.
Applications for exemptions must be filed each year. Exemptions are granted on an annual basis.
(Clause 41C):To qualify, a taxpayer:
1. must be over 65 years of age as of July 1, 2009 and
2. must have primary residence in Massachusetts for ten years and owned property in the state for five years and must have occupied the property as of July 1, 2009 and
3. must have a whole estate (the value of personal property excluding domicile) of less than $40,000 if single, $55,000 if married and
4. must have an income less than $20,000 if single, $30,000 if married, after subtracting an allowable exclusion.
Upon Approval, Taxpayer Is Entitled To A $1000.00 Exemption.
(Clause 41A):To qualify, a taxpayer:
1. must be over 65 years of age as of July 1, 2009 and
2. must have primary residence in Massachusetts for ten years and owned property in the state for five years and
3. must have occupied the property as of July 1, 2009and
4. must have a total gross income of less than $60,000 per year.
Upon Approval, Taxpayer Is Entitled To Defer (Delay) Payment Of Any Portion Of The Property Tax Bill.
(Clause 17D):To qualify, a taxpayer:
1. must be over 70 years of age as of July 1, 2009 or must be a surviving spouse or surviving minor child
2. must have owned and occupied the property for five years and
3. must have a whole estate (the value of personal property less domicile) of less than $40,000.
Upon Approval, Taxpayer is Entitled To a $175.00 Exemption.
(Clause 22):To qualify, a taxpayer:
1. must be a veteran or spouse of a veteran and
2. must have a service-connected disability of 10% or more or
3. have been awarded the Purple Heart or
4. be a veteran of the Spanish, Philippine or Chinese Expedition or
5. have been awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Air Force Cross or Navy Cross
N.B. The parents of a veteran who lost his/her life in service are also entitled to apply for this exemption.
Amount Of Exemption Varies According To Degree Of Disability.
(Clause 18): Download FormAny property owner who cannot meet his/her real estate tax obligation due to AGE and INFIRMITY and POVERTY may apply for this exemption. To qualify, the applicant must present evidence to the Board of Assessors that corroborates the individual's inability to pay the assessed tax as well as documentation on the individual's infirmity and the individual's age. Household income, assets, home equity and ability to defer taxes are some of the factors considered when determining poverty or financial hardship.
Upon approval, the amount granted varies according to need.
To qualify, a taxpayer:
1. must be a legal resident of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,
2. own and occupy the property as his/her domicile,
3. and file current proof of blindness each year with the application.
Upon Approval, The Taxpayer Is Entitled To A $500.00 Exemption.
To qualify, a taxpayer: 1. must be sixty (60) years of age or older as of July 1, 2009.
2. must have principal place of residence in Newton, Massachusetts as of July 1, 2009.
3. must have gross income less than $40,000 if such person is single and not head of household, less than $50,000 if such person is head of household, or less than $60,000 if such person files a joint tax return with spouse.Upon Approval, the Taxpayer is eligible to earn up to $750.00* which will be credited to their real estate tax bill.
* Federal Tax and other deductions will be withheld.
The City of Newton has created a special fund to assist elderly and disabled persons of low income who are having problems paying their property taxes. The Newton Taxation Aid Fund provides modest grants to help elderly and disabled citizens faced with temporary financial hardships. The grants are used to pay a small portion of a homeowner’s real estate taxes. Our approach in considering grant requests is to look carefully at each applicant’s total financial and housing situation. The fund is authorized by state law and administered by a committee consisting of the chair of the board of assessors, the city treasurer and three Newton citizens.
NOTE: TAXPAYERS WHO QUALIFY FOR EXEMPTIONS UNDER CLAUSES 17D, 18, 41C OR 41A MAY ALSO QUALIFY FOR A DISCOUNT OF 30% OFF THEIR WATER/SEWER BILLS, DEPENDING ON THEIR WATER SERVICE. PLEASE CALL FOR MORE DETAILS.CLICK HERE to go to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts web site to learn about the tax circuit breaker program on state income taxes for eligible elderly taxpayers.