City of Boston.gov - Official Web Site of the City of Boston - Thomas M. Menino, Mayor

Text size: A A A

Real Estate Taxes, Tax Bills and Payments

+Expand All Answers

What happens if I do not pay my tax bill?: Tax payments must be received on or before the due date to avoid interest charges. If payment is not made within 30 days of the original date of mailing, the account will begin to accrue interest at the rate of 14% per annum, computed from the date the bill was due.

In addition, a demand notice will be sent and a demand fee of $5.00 is charged against the account. If the account remains outstanding 14 days after the issuance of the demand notice, a warrant notice is sent. The warrant fee is $12.00.

Please note that demand and warrant notices are sent only on the third and fourth quarter bills.

If the account remains delinquent after June 30th of the fiscal year, a tax lien (a legal claim placed on property for debt) is placed on the property and is recorded with the Suffolk County Registry of Deeds. In addition, the property is placed in the tax title system. A tax lien is the first step in the foreclosure process. All taxes, costs and interest must be paid to prevent foreclosure.

If you require additional assistance, please contact the Collector Treasurer at (617) 635-4131, or visit the customer service window (M-31) on the Mezzanine level of Boston City Hall between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

How can I obtain tax bill payments information?: Go to Assessing–On-line on the menu. Complete the input screen for the particular property you are searching for. When you have accessed the property screen click on Tax Payments.

What should I do if I recently sold my property, but I am still receiving a tax bill?: If you receive a bill, please forward it to the new owner immediately as it is his/her responsibility to make payment.

Who is responsible for the taxes if a property is sold after January 1?: Although the tax bill will bear the name of the assessed owner as of January 1, the new owner is responsible for all taxes once the sale of the property is finalized. The amount of tax owed by the old owner is determined at the time of closing and is typically deducted from the selling price. Once this deduction is made, the new owner must pay all bills, as they become due in order to avoid collection actions, including foreclosure. The lawyers assisting each party should already have investigated any outstanding taxes and obtained a Municipal Lien Certificate. Once the agreement is made, the new owner is obligated to pay any outstanding taxes due on the property.

Why should I pay interest on a late payment when I never received my tax bill?: Under state law, failure to receive a bill does not affect the validity of the tax or any interest or fines incurred due to late payment(s).

It is the responsibility of the taxpayer to secure his/her tax bill when one is not received. You can request a Duplicate Tax Bill via the Assessing Contact Form or by calling the Taxpayer Referral & Assistance Center (TRAC) at (617) 635-4287 to request the bill. Actual duplicate tax bills are sent via regular mail only or may be picked up in person at the TRAC Office. The TRAC Office will mail you a duplicate bill on request. However, the request must be received early enough to allow sufficient time to avoid late charges.

What happens if the check I mail is returned due to insufficient funds, or signature?: If your check is returned due to insufficient funds, absence of signature, the account will have the same status as an 'unpaid' account. It is the Collecting Division's policy not to redeposit checks. The Collecting Division's Teller Operations makes every effort to notify via first class mail. Also, you should receive notice from your bank of the bad check and your bank statement will reflect that the check has not been cashed.

As provided by law, a penalty charge of $25.00 or if check is greater that $2,500.00, 1% of the amount of the check (whichever is greater) will be assessed to your tax account for each bad check received, in addition to any other fees and interest applicable. You should, therefore, mail or submit in person a replacement certified or registered check.

If you require additional assistance, please contact the Collector Treasurer at (617) 635-4131, or visit the customer service window (M-31) on the Mezzanine level of Boston City Hall between 9:00 a.m. and 5p.m., Monday through Friday.

What happens when a tax bill is paid, but you receive a demand notice for tax not paid or, you find out that you overpaid?: Proof of Payment
The Collecting Division proof of payment policy is based on guidelines issued by independent auditors. Any request for an adjustment in payment, such as a transfer of funds or a refund, must meet the following requirements:

Request must be in writing.

Photocopies of the front and back of the canceled check(s) applied to the account or original receipts of all payments applied to the account (or any combination of the two) must be submitted.

If one check was issued to pay more than one account, (as many banks and mortgage companies usually do) in addition to the photocopy of the front and back of the canceled check(s) used to pay the account, you must provide a list of all the ward and parcel numbers which said check was to pay.

For payments made by money order, a photocopy of the original money order, not the "non-negotiable consumer's copy: ' is required.

On receipt of the written request and submission of complete documentation, our research staff examines the information verifying such with our records.

If you require additional assistance, please contact the Collector Treasurer at (617) 635-4131, or visit the customer service window (M-31) on the Mezzanine level of Boston City Hall between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

I did not receive my tax bill? How do I request a copy of my tax bill?: You may request a duplicate tax bill via the Assessing Contact Form or calling the Taxpayer Referral & Assistance Center (TRAC) at (617) 635-4287. Have your ward and parcel number on hand when you call. Duplicate tax bills are sent via regular mail only or may be picked up in person at the TRAC office

How do I change my tax bill mailing address?: If you have a new address and want your bill mailed there permanently, you can request the Change of Tax Bill Mailing Address Form by calling the TRAC office at 617-635-4287 OR obtain the Change of Tax Bill Mailing Address Form.

Fill out the form and return it directly to Assessing Tax Data Administration, Room 301, Boston City Hall, Boston, MA 02201.

How can I change the tax bill to my name, after purchasing a parcel of property?: New owners at the time of recording your deed should be sure to fill out the Assessing Department card, "Mail Address Change Form" given to you with the Municipal Lien Certificate.

NOTE: You should NOT use a change of address form to change the name on a tax bill, nor should you attempt to inform us of a change by sending a tax bill with the previous owner's name crossed out and the new owners name written in.

The Collecting Division is required by Massachusetts General Law to bill the assessed owner as of January 1, and must issue the bill of the same fiscal year (July 1 to June 30) to the owner as of January 1.

The name will change automatically on the next fiscal year bill. If, after the passage of time, the name still is not changed on the bill, please contact Assessing Department Tax Data Administration unit at (617) 635-3783.

You can change your tax bill mailing address however. Print out the Mail Address Change Form, complete the form and send it directly to Assessing Tax Data Administration, Room 301, Boston City Hall, Boston, MA 02201. Or, you can call the TRAC and request the form at (617) 635-4287.

Can I pay my real estate tax bill online?

Yes, The City of Boston has a new property tax online-bill payments program. You can pay property tax bills online using direct debit from your checking or savings account.

Pay Online

Note: Online payment services are closed daily from 11 PM to midnight. For questions regarding tax bill payments Contact the Collector's office at (617) 635-4136

How do I obtain PRIOR fiscal year taxes owed information?: Call the Collector's office at (617) 635-4131 or 4132.

How do I obtain CURRENT fiscal year taxes owed information?: Call the Taxpayer Referral & Assistance Center at (617) 635-4287.

What's the difference between the calendar year and the fiscal year?

The City of Boston operates on a Fiscal Year basis for tax billing purposes. The Calendar year is January 1 - December 31. The Fiscal Year is July 1 - June 30.

Fiscal Year 2010 runs from July 1, 2009 - June 30, 2010.

When are real property tax bills mailed and payments due?

The City of Boston employs a Quarterly tax billing system. Tax bills are mailed four times a year:

1st Quarter - July 1st
2nd Quarter - October 1st
3rd Quarter - January 1st
4th quarter - April 1st.

The bills are sent thirty (30) days prior to the dates they are due. The quarterly tax payments are due thirty days from the date the tax bill is issued on the following dates:

August 1st
November 1st
February 1st
May 1st

NOTE: if the 1st of the month falls on a weekend, taxes and abatement applications are due the first Monday immediately following the 1st.

If you require additional assistance, please contact the Collector Treasurer at (617) 635-4131, or visit the customer service window (M-31) on the Mezzanine level of Boston City Hall between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Where should I mail my real estate tax payment?

Please mail payment to:

Collector of Taxes
City of Boston
P.O. Box 55808
Boston, MA 02205-5808

Please make checks payable to: City of Boston. For proper crediting, write the ward and parcel numbers on the check and enclose the top portion of your tax bill. To obtain a receipt, enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope and both portions of the bill with the payment. If you require additional assistance, please contact the Collector Treasurer at (617) 635-4131, or visit the customer service window (M-31) on the Mezzanine level of Boston City Hall between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

If you require additional assistance, please contact the Collector Treasurer at (617) 635-4131, or visit the customer service window (M-31) on the Mezzanine level of Boston City Hall between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Taxpayer Referral & Assistance

City Departments

Privacy & Security