Failing to pay Massachusetts property taxes may lead to significant consequences for property owners, including the taking of a tax title to their home. In many cases, however, the law provides a way for individuals to reclaim ownership. In an April 17, 2019 case before the Massachusetts Land Court, the homeowners…
In a recent decision, the Appeals Court of Massachusetts reviewed a decision from the Tax Board affirming the plaintiffs’ property valuation as determined by the local board of assessors. In Sliski v. Bd. of Assessors of Lincoln, 45 N.E.3d 612 (Mass. App. Ct. 2016), the plaintiffs owned two parcels of…
The Massachusetts Court of Appeals reviewed a decision by the Appellate Tax Board in Russell Block Associates v. Board of Assessors of Worcester, ultimately affirming its determination granting the taxpayer a tax abatement on a parking garage. The primary issue in the case was whether the garage was a multiple-use…
In a newly released opinion, the Massachusetts Land Court discussed the harsh consequences of property tax lien foreclosure proceedings. In Tallage LLC v. Meaney, the homeowners’ unpaid water and sewer bills became a tax debt, since those utilities are provided by the city. The city auctions its tax receivables to private…
In the recent real estate case, Roman Catholic Bishop of Fall River v. Board of Assessors of Attleboro, App. Ct. Mass. (2014), the Appeals Court of Massachusetts had before it the issue of a requested tax abatement for a church property. The plaintiff timely paid the assessed tax and filed a…
Now that we are firmly into the new year, Massachusetts residents should have already received their updated property tax assessments in the mail. Property taxes are calculated by multiplying your city’s tax rate by the assessed value of your property and all the structures on it, which may vary depending on the…
Boston Property Values Skyrocket Owners of commercial and residential properties all over the Boston area are facing higher property tax assessments. This goes along with the good news – bad news phenomenon of the relentlessly rising value of Boston real estate. In fact, the collective value of Boston residential and commercial…