Personal Property Tax

Payments can be made:

  • Online Here
  • Mailed to Town of Barre, 40 West Street, Barre MA 01005
  • Dropped in the lock box outside the building.
  • Brought into the office.
  • NOTICE TO ALL TAX PAYERS:
    • "Postmarks are not considered payment in a timely fashion..." per M.G.L. Chapter 59 section 57.
    • Bounced checks are not re-deposited. A fee of $25.00 and any accrued late charges will be added to the bill for all checks not honored by your bank.
    • Checks will not be held by the Treasurer/Collector for later deposit.

 

Due Dates: 

  • Preliminary real estate tax bills for 1st and 2nd quarter are mailed the end of June each year.
    • 1st quarter tax bill are due August 1st
    • 2nd quarter tax bills are due November 1st.
  • Actual tax bills for 3rd and 4th quarter are mailed the end of December each year.
    • 3rd quarter tax bills are due February 1st
    • 4th quarter tax bills are due May 1st.
  •  NOTICE TO ALL TAX PAYERS:
    • If the 1st falls on a weekend then the due date will be moved to the next business day (as marked on your bills and posted on our department page).

    • All personal property situated in the commonwealth is subject to tax, unless specifically exempt by law-  Massachusetts GL c. 59, §2. Property is situated in a particular city or town in the commonwealth if it is present on January 1 with the owner's intention that it remain with some degree of permanence. 

    • A primary example of exempt property involves household furnishings and effects. Such household personal property at a persons domicile (primary residence) is expressly exempt from personal property tax. GL c. 59, §5, cl. 20. 

 

Abatements, Exemptions & Address Changes:

  • Please contact the Assessors Office for information regarding Abatements, Exemptions and Address Changes. 
  • Any Abatements or Exemptions received are applied directly to your Quarter 3 and Quarter 4 Actual Tax bills.
  • Massachusetts General Law requires that the property tax bill must be sent to the Assessed owner of record as of January 1st of the previous year.

  • The owner of the property as of January 1 preceding the fiscal year is generally the person assessed the tax, under GL c. 59, §18 & 18, First. In the case of machinery or tangible personal property leased for profit, the tax may also be assessed to the person in possession, under GL c. 59, §18, Second. Personal property of a deceased person may be assessed to the estate or executor. GL c. 59, §18, Third. Jointly owned property may be assessed to one or more of the owners. GL c. 59, §18, Fourth. Partnership property is assessed in the partnership name. GL c. 59, §18, Sixth.

 

Late Payments:

  • Interest at a rate of 14% per annum is assessed on all payments received after the due dates, and is charged from the due date until the tax is paid.  
  • A tax balance still remaining unpaid after May 1st will result in the issuance of a demand bill and an additional $25.00 fee.
  • NOTICE TO ALL TAX PAYERS:
    • It is the responsibility of the taxpayer to ensure that tax bills arrive in the Treasurer Collector office on or before the due dates. 
    • A person who does not receive a bill is still liable for the tax plus any interest charges accrued. [M.G.L. Chapter 60 Sections, sections 3 & 16]
    • If taxes are not paid (current) in Barre, you can be denied a permit from the various Boards within the Town until such time as your taxes are brought current.
    • Continued failure to remit the balance will result in the securing of a lien on the property through a tax taking process. Public notice of this process will be posted two weeks in advance in a local newspaper and in two public places. An Instrument of Taking will then be recorded at the Worcester County Registry of Deeds.