Assessing
Our mission is to accurately assess property and provide prompt and courteous help to the public. We determine the value of property in Boston for the purpose of taxation.
Filing for a residential exemption, personal exemption, or tax deferral
The City has a number of tax relief programs for those homeowners who occupy the property as their principal residence. This year, the residential exemption will save taxpayers $2,538 on their tax bill. Personal exemptions may provide additional tax relief to those qualifying homeowners who are Elderly, Surviving Spouses or Minor Children of Deceased Parents, Veterans, or certain members of the National Guard. The tax deferral program for seniors is also available to qualifying senior homeowners whose rising expenses have made it difficult to continue owning their home.
The online applications for the residential exemption and most personal exemptions are available online starting January 1, 2018 by clicking on Assessing Online below. Follow the instructions on Assessing Online to obtain the residential exemption and/or personal exemption application for your property.
The Fiscal Year 2018 filing deadline for the residential exemption, personal exemption, and tax deferral is April 2, 2018.
7-year property Maintenance Project
In the coming weeks, assessors will be performing inspections at properties across the City that have not been inspected or sold in the last seven years. These inspections may take place between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday to Friday. Representatives will carry a City of Boston photo ID and drive a City vehicle. Have questions or concerns? Please contact us at 617-635-4321.
Contact
Tax Data Administration (TDA)
Personal Property
Main office Number
Pay or view your bills online
Property data via Analyze Boston
Generate a Property Abutter Mailing List
FY 2018 3rd and 4th Quarter Taxpayer Information
Make a request for a property record card
How to file for a personal exemption
Tax deferral program for seniors
Residential property sales for calendar year 2016
In November 2016, Boston voters approved the Community Preservation Act (CPA) by voting “yes” on Ballot Question 5. By adopting the act, the City has created a Community Preservation Fund.
The City finances the fund in part by a 1% property tax-based surcharge on residential and business property tax bills. You may see the surcharge on your property tax bills beginning with the Fiscal Year 2018 first-quarter tax bill in July 2017.
Find out more information about property taxes. We also have information about motor vehicle and boat excise payments.
The City has tax incentive programs to advance its economic development and housing goals. These programs include Chapter 121A, Chapter 121B, Tax Increment Financing, and Special Tax Assessment.
We created a page to give you more information about these programs. You can also download active tax agreements with the City.
Many of Boston’s major schools, hospitals, and cultural institutions make a voluntary contribution to the City each year in the form of cash and community programs that uniquely benefit the City’s residents.
- The deadline to file a Fiscal Year 2018 Community Preservation Act ("CPA") Surcharge Exemption application is April 2, 2018.
- For more information, including exemption qualification guidelines, please see CPA Surcharge Information.
Each report presents in text, charts, and tables an overview of property taxes in the City of Boston. Through comparative and historical data, a taxpayer can compare Fiscal Year assessments and tax rates with those in earlier years and with those in other jurisdictions:
