In the current economy, people struggle more than ever to pay their property taxes. We are often asked what can be done about it. If you believe your property is assessed incorrectly or there is an error on your bill, you are encouraged to contact the Assessor's Agent, Alice Pearse, to make an appointment with the Assessor. The only way to avoid paying the tax is for the tax to be abated by the Assessors due to an error, or by the Selectmen as a poverty abatement. Failure to pay your property taxes can eventually result in the foreclosure of your property.
So, what can you do if you are having trouble paying your taxes?
- If you have a mortgage, consider an escrow account and the money will be collected along with your mortgage payment and used to pay the taxes at the proper time.
- If you don't have a mortgage, set up a special savings account and put money toward you taxes on a weekly, biweekly, or monthly basis so that you will have it when the bill arrives.
- If you are already behind, pay toward your balance regularly. You have 18 months from the filing of a tax lien to pay the balance for that year to avoid foreclosure. Don't wait until you get an impending foreclosure notice!
- Pay as much extra as you can to get your taxes caught up, then continue to pre-pay toward the next year if you have difficulty saving the money in a bank account.
- Make sure that you have applied for any programs that you are eligible for, whether it be an exemption or the State tax and rent refund program. Click on the link below to check out those programs.
Tax Collector
Kathy Hoey
Deputy Tax Collector
Kathleen Andreoni
2010 TAXES
Mill Rate: 18.3
Due Date: September 30, 2011
Interest on unpaid taxes starts October 3, 2011
Interest rate on unpaid taxes: 6%
PAYMENT IS BY CASH OR CHECK ONLY--we do not accept debit or credit cards
Mailed bills are considered on time if postmarked by September 30, 2011. Checks will be processed on the day they are delivered.
We do not accept post-dated checks or hold checks until a future date.