Personal Property Tax

Payments can be made:

  •  Online Here (please note that prior fiscal year bills may only be paid in cash, bank check, or money order)
  • Mailed to: Town of Barre     40 West Street- Suite 387     Barre, MA 01005
  • Dropped in the lock box outside the building.
  • Brought into the office.

 

        • "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 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 and 2nd quarter tax bills are due November 1st.
  • Actual tax bills for 3rd and 4th quarter are mailed the end of December each year.
    • The tax rate should be set in time for the third quarterly bill to be mailed for January 1st. 
    • 3rd quarter tax bills are due February 1st and 4th quarter tax bills are due May 1st.

Personal Property:
Massachusetts law states that your failure to receive a tax bill does not invalidate the tax or the proceedings for collection.

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. 

 

How Personal Property is Assessed:

A 5. 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.

 

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.

 

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. 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 taxpayer 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]

 

Prior Fiscal Year Payments

Late payments relating to prior fiscal years must be paid in cash, bank check, or money order. A prior fiscal year bill would be any bill from a fiscal year prior to our present one which is FY23. The Massachusetts Fiscal Year runs from July 1 to June 30. For example, all real estate bills due prior to August of 2022 would be prior years. It is also important when planning to pay a prior fiscal year bill to contact the Treasurer/Collectors office in advance to determine the full amount due with all interest and fees included.