In response to the concerns of taxpayers regarding the increase in last years’ actual tax bills, we are instituting a new policy of apportioning your total estimated tax over the four billing quarters. Such an increase is permissible under MGL Ch. 59, Section 57C. This will help to reduce the annual spike in the actual tax bills that will be mailed December 31, 2016 and are due on February 1, 2017 and May 1, 2017.
This apportionment is in effort to level the four quarters of real estate and personal property taxes. The Preliminary first and second quarterly bills will be mailed by June 30, 2016 and will be due August 1, 2016 and November 1, 2016.
We hope that this will improve property owners’ ability to budget their annual tax obligations throughout the year, and assist banks in calculating your tax escrow withholdings.
The actual tax bills due next February 1 and May 1 will still vary from the first two bills, due to changes in the tax rate and assessed value, but this method of apportioning the total bill will help lessen the impact of these changes.
