What are the due dates for Real Estate Taxes?
Tax bills are issued four times a year. The quarterly tax payments are due on the following dates:
August 1st; November 1st; February 1st; May 1st.
What if I don't receive a Real Estate Tax Bill?
You can obtain a statement by going to the Bill Lookup section of the site or by calling the Town Treasurers Office at (781)316-3030.
Under state law, Chapter 60, Section 3, 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.
New Owner?
If you are a new property owner and have not received your tax bill from the previous owner, you can request a statement as described above.
What happens if I pay my Real Estate Tax late?
Interest of 14% per annum will start accruing at the close of business on the due date.
Where do I mail my Real Estate Tax payment?
Please mail payments to:
Office of the Tax Collector
Town of Arlington
P.O. Box 210
Arlington, MA 02476
Please make checks payable to: Town of Arlington.
For proper credit, write the bill number on the check and enclose the top portion of your Real Estate Tax bill. To obtain a receipt, enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope and both portions of the bill with your payment. One will be stamped paid and returned.
How do I change the old owners name that appears on the Tax Bill, after purchasing the property?
New owners, at the time of recording the deed, should be sure to fill out the Change of Owner and/or Address card provided with the Municipal Lien Certificate. This will change the "mail to" portion of the bill; the permanent change will take place when the Assessors Office receives the deed from the Registry of Probate.
NOTE: All changes of owners or addresses must be made in writing, by filling out a Change of Address form (see below).
How do I change the mailing address on my Real Estate Bill?
All change of addresses must be made in writing, either by coming into the Tax Collectors Office and filling out a change of address form or by completing a change of address form and mailing it to:
Office of the Tax Collector
Town of Arlington
P.O. Box 210
Arlington, MA 02476
What happens if there is an overpayment on my Real Estate Tax?
Overpayments will be applied to the next quarter unless it is the last quarter of the Fiscal Year. If an overpayment is made on the last quarter it will be refunded to the person or mortgage company that caused the credit balance.
What happens if I don't pay my Real Estate Tax?
Tax payments must be received on or before the due date to avoid interest and demand charges. If payment is not made on or before the due date the account will begin to accrue interest at the rate of 14% per annum, computed from the date the bill was due.
On the 4th quarter bill a demand notice will be sent and a demand fee of $5.00 is charged against the account.
If the account remains delinquent the owner's Name, Address and the amount of outstanding taxes will be advertised in the Arlington Advocate and the advertising fee will be charged to the account.
If the account remains delinquent on June 30th of the fiscal year, a tax lien (a legal claim placed on the property for debt) is placed on the property and is recorded with the Middlesex County Registry of Deeds. A tax lien is the first step in the foreclosure process. All taxes, costs and interest must be paid to prevent foreclosure.
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.
How do I get a Municipal Lien Certificate?
You may obtain a Municipal Lien Certificate by completing a request for Municipal Lien form and mailing it to:
Office of the Tax Collector
Town of Arlington
P.O. Box 210
Arlington, MA 02476
You will need to supply the Property Address and name of the Current Owner.
A self-addressed, stamped envelope should be included with the request, if you wish the Municipal Lien Certificate to be mailed to you.
How much will it cost and how long does it take?
The cost for a Municipal Lien Certificate is twenty-five dollars. Acceptable forms of payment are: attorney's check; certified or registered check; personal check; and cash (if paid in person).
Am I entitled to an abatement?
You may be qualified for an abatement of your Real Estate tax if:
You are over 70 years of age.
You are a widow.
You are a Veteran.
You are Blind.
How do I apply for an abatement?
If you think you might qualify for one of these abatements or would like to inquire about other abatements that are available, you should contact the Assessors Office at Town Hall or call (781)316-3050. Timely filing for abatements is critical.
How much did I pay in Real Estate Taxes last year?
You can obtain a statement by calling the Town Treasurers Office at (781)316-3030.
Have you received my Real Estate Tax payment from my bank?
You can obtain that information by calling the Town Treasurers Office at (781)316-3030.
What if I am buying a condominium that is in the middle of a conversion?
Until the conversion is completed, the property is recognized as just one parcel. There is only one bill for all units and it is between you and all the other unit owners how the Real Estate bill is divided. You must also notify your mortgage company as to the amount of your portion of the Real Estate bill that should be paid.
Once the conversion is completed, there will be separate Real Estate bills for each unit.
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