Question 2: Property Taxes and Covid-19? Decisions?

Mon, 13 Apr 2020 16:55:32 GMT

As you are all likely aware, the Governor has signed " An Act to Address Challenges Faced by Municipalities and State Authorities Resulting From Covid-19".

(Ch. 53 or the Acts of 2020)

Within this Act, two sections of focus are Sections 10 and 11.

Section 10 gives local options to extend the Due Dates of Property Bills from May 1, 2020 to no later than June 1, 2020, as well as giving local option to extend the Due Date for many Real Estate Exemptions and Real Estate Tax Deferrals from April 1, 2020, to no later than June 1, 2020.

Section 11 gives local option to waive interest and other penalties for late payment on any excise, tax, betterment assessment or apportionment thereof, water rate, or annual sewer use or other charge added to a tax with a due date after March 10, 2020, but paid by June 30, 2020.

Section 10.Question 1A- Has your community adopted an extension of the Payment Due Date? Question 1B - If "YES" until what date?

Section 10.Question 2A- Has your community adopted an extension of the Exemption/Deferral Due Date? Question 1B - If "YES" until what date?

Section 11.Question 3A- Has your community adopted an waiver of interest?

Please post your responses! We are trying to get a large scale sense of the reaction.

Also, as you are likely aware, Massachusetts is not the only state grappling with the payment issues. I have attached an article from the Hartford Courant that might be of interest. I have also attached BUL-2002-2 so you may review the language for Sections 10 and 11.

Finally, I also attached a copy of the notice that the Town of Sandwich has predominately placed on their website. The is to comply with BUL-2020-3, which amended the manner in which communities could contact their taxpayers regarding the local option changes,

Remember - We are all facing this issue. Your participation in how we are separately and collectively handling aspects of this issues is important and greatly appreciated!

Property Taxes and Covid 19 Decisions

Tue, 14 Apr 2020 13:32:08 GMT

The Town of Sturbridge Board of Selectmen voted the following: 1) To extend the RE/PP tax due date until June 1, 2020 2) To extend the Exemption due date until June 1, 2020 3) To waive any interest and fees until June 30, 2020

Tue, 14 Apr 2020 15:24:18 GMT

Thanks Ann, for the info. I got your voice mail and did not see any postings on question 1. Not being that savvy about how these work, I would urge you to try again, and I will let Christine and Paula know about what happened.

Tue, 14 Apr 2020 20:19:08 GMT

Hi Ed,

South Hadley - not at this time for all 3!

Tue, 14 Apr 2020 20:20:19 GMT

Town of Tewksbury

1A: Yes 1B: June 1, 2020
2A: No - no vote only have a few exemptions that didn't file and we have contacted them several times with no response.
3A - Yes, waive interest : The Town has voted to waive interest and penalties for late payment of any excise, tax, betterment assessment or apportionment thereof, water rate or annual sewer use or other charge added to a tax for any payments with a due date on or after March 10, 2020 where payment is made late but before June 30, 2020. This applies to late payments of bills that have a due date of March 10, 2020 or after, when such bills are paid late but paid on or before June 30. This waiver of interest does not apply to bills with due dates before March 10, 2020 or if the bill is not paid by June 30. So if you have a bill that was due before March 10 or if you do not pay your bill by June 30, 2020 this waiver of interest and penalties will not apply.

Wed, 15 Apr 2020 15:38:55 GMT

Groveland has extended the due date of bills to June 1 with no interest. We have also extended the time to file for exemptions.
As we all know the State has not addressed the applications for abatements on real estate and personal property, so as far as I know the Board of Assessors still only have 90 days to act on the applications or they all fall to a deemed denied.

Wed, 15 Apr 2020 15:57:30 GMT

Thanks to all who have posted through 11 AM 15-Apr-2020 - Very appreciated!

Wed, 15 Apr 2020 16:35:12 GMT

The Town of Halifax Board of Selectmen voted the following:
1) To extend the RE/PP tax due date until June 1, 2020
2) To extend the Exemption due date until June 1, 2020
3) To waive any interest and fees until June 29, 2020
We are a semi-annual town. Be well everyone.

Wed, 15 Apr 2020 18:34:37 GMT

The Town of Boxford has voted to extend the due date for real estate and personal property tax bills, as well as for exemption applications to June 1, 2020.

They did NOT vote to waive interest through June 30th.

Thu, 16 Apr 2020 20:04:19 GMT

The Town of Weymouth has voted

1. To extend the RE/PP tax due date until June 1, 2020
2. To extend the Exemption due date until June 1, 2020
3. To waive all interest and other penalties until July 1, 2020, in the event of a late payment of any real estate, personal property, motor vehicle excise, water/ sewer utility bill with a due date of March 10, 2020 or later. Weymouth taxpayers now have until June 30, 2020 to make the payment without incurring interest or other penalties.