Real Estate & Personal Property Taxes FAQ
When are real estate tax bills mailed and payments due?
Tax bills are mailed twice a year but payments are due quarterly. The 1st and 2nd quarter bills are mailed together by July 1stand are due August 1st and November 1st; the 3rd and 4th quarter bills are mailed by January 1st and due February 1st and May 1st. If the due date falls on a weekend, the bills are due the following Monday.
The tax bills are based on a fiscal year which runs from July 1 through June 30.
Where should I mail my real estate tax payment?
Please mail payment to:
- Tax Collector
- Town of Heath
- PO Box 689
- Heath, MA 01346
Please make checks payable to the Town of Heath. For proper crediting enclose the upper or middle portion of your tax bill (depending on the quarter due), retaining the lower section for your personal tax records. Failure to include the remit portion may result the payment being incorrectly posted or returned to you.
To obtain a receipt, enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope and the entire bill with your payment. The taxpayer copy will be returned.
Your payment will be considered late if not received in the Collector’s office by the due date. Post marks are not considered.
What methods can I use to pay my bills?
You can mail your check and payment coupon to Town of Heath, c/o Tax Collector, PO Box 689, Heath, MA 01346.
Credit card and electronic check payments can be made at UniPay Gold. You can access this link using the blue button lableled View or Pay at Tax Bill on the Collector's main page. Please process your payment at least 2 days before the due date or your payment may be received late.
If you are paying in cash please contact the collector by phone to schedule an appointment.
If you are currently using your bank’s online payment service to pay a Town of Heath bill, please be sure to include the following information when making payment and allow adequate time for your payment to be received before the due date as your bank mails a paper check that may take 5 days to be received:
Real Estate, Parcel ID, tax year and bill number
Personal Property, bill number and tax year
Excise, bill number and tax year
Failure to adequately identify the bill or bills to be paid when using your bank’s online payment service may result in the check being returned to you.
What should I do in the event I do not receive my bill?
Please make sure to provide the Board of Assessors with your current mailing address.
Call the Collector’s office at (413) 337-4934 ext. 2 to obtain a copy of the bill, or print one out using the View or Pay a Bill link on the Collector's page.
If you are a new property owner and have not received your tax bill from the previous owner, you may need to contact the Collector’s Office for a duplicate copy.
How can I file for an abatement?
If you feel that your property is not correctly valued please contact the Board of Assessor’s Office to learn how to file for an abatement. Generally you must file after the actual bill is received (usually in December) and before February 1st.
You must file an application for an abatement in writing on an approved form with the Board of Assessors. You may apply for an abatement if you believe your property is valued at more than its fair cash value or is not assessed fairly in comparison with other properties. If tax bills were mailed on or before December 31st, the filing deadline for an abatement application is February 1st.
New tax bill mailing address?
If you have a new address and want your bill mailed there as a permanent change, contact the Board of Assessor’s Office.
What happens if I do not pay my tax bill on time?
Tax payments must be received on or before the due date to avoid interest charges. If payment is not made within 30 days of the original date of mailing, the account will begin to accrue interest at the rate of 14% per annum, computed from the date the bill was due. A demand notice will be sent and a demand fee of $10.00 is charged against the account. If the account remains outstanding 14 days after the issuance of the demand notice tax title procedures are started.
Please note that demand notices are sent only after the fourth quarter bill cycle closes.
What do I need to do if my mortgage company pays my taxes?
If a bank or mortgage company escrows your taxes, it is your responsibility to make sure that they make timely payments. By law tax bills are mailed to the property owner. Check with your bank or mortgage company to find out how they obtain tax information. Some companies require the homeowner to mail in a copy of their bill, others obtain the information directly from the Collector’s Office. If your mortgage company requires you to mail them your bill you should keep a copy for your personal tax records.
Why should I pay interest on a late payment when I never received my tax bill?
Under state law, 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. You can request tax information by calling the Collector’s Office at (413) 337-4934 ext. 2 or obtain it yourself using the View or Pay a Bill link.
How can I change the tax bill to my name after purchasing property?
The Assessor’s Office is required by Massachusetts General Law to bill the assessed owner as of January 1, therefore, any transfer between January 2nd and December 31st will not be reflected on any tax bills until the following July 1st. If after the passage of time, the name still is not changed on the bill, please contact the Board of Assessor’s Office at (413) 337-4934 ext. 3. The only way to change a name on a property tax bill is to either record a new deed or to provide the Assessors office with a probated will.
You can change your tax bill address however, by notifying the Collector or Assessor’s Office of your new address.
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 or return it to the Collector’s Office immediately.
When are Personal Property tax bills mailed and payment due?
Personal Property tax bills are mailed quarterly at the same time as real estate bills. The quarterly tax payments are due on the following dates: August 1st, November 1st, February 1st and May 1st. If the due date falls on a weekend, the bills are due the following Monday.
Where do I file for an abatement or exemption on real estate and/or personal property taxes?
All abatement and exemption information can be obtained from the Board of Assessor’s Office.
Posted: to Tax Collector on Fri, Mar 10, 2017
Updated: Mon, Mar 8, 2021
