If you’re like a lot of local homeowners, you probably got an eye-opening property tax bill this month! Some homeowners tell Boston 25 News their quarterly bills skyrocketed as much as $13-hundred dollars or 25%.
“I think it’s ridiculous, I don’t know if it’s politically based or not, but yeah, it’s pretty high”, one Norwood homeowner told us.
“I mean I’m lucky, I can pay it, but it’s really awful, I mean I think it’s horrible,” said another from West Roxbury. According to a recent Kiplinger report, in property bills mailed in 2024 rose nationwide for many and bills increased by as much as 30% in some places. In the Boston area, home values have increased dramatically, and property assessments and taxes have risen along with them.
“It’s pretty sad in this state, a lot of people leaving. They’re always talking about taxes, that’s why they call it Taxachusetts,” homeowner Paul Hughes told Boston 25.
We sat down with the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth Bill Galvin to find out what homeowners should do about your tax bill if you feel like you were charged the wrong amount.
Galvin suggests you file for an abatement.
“If you have a property that you think is unfairly valued. In other words, your house is valued the same as three or four houses, but they’re all bigger than yours. Then you might have a claim for an abatement,” he said.
An abatement is a reduction in your property taxes. You can find this application on the state’s website. But it must be filed with your local assessor’s office either in person or by mail. You have to file a claim soon: The deadline is February 1. Since it falls on a weekend, Galvin suggests you file in advance.
But don’t forget to pay that bill first.
“You also have to pay the tax. You file for the abatement and then they’ll refund you the tax that you had to pay,” Galvin told us.
But for those who don’t file, the question remains, is there any light at the end of the tunnel?
Local tax expert Robert Weiss tells Boston 25 News there has been some talk of lifting the $10,000 tax cap, which in theory could help.
“But that remains to be seen with the new Republican Congress and President,” Weiss said. “We just have to wait and see but I’ve been hearing some rumblings about that cap being lifted so there would be some offset to those who are paying, you know, high real estate taxes especially.”
Local homeowners Boston 25 spoke with said it’s important to know what’s going on in your city or town, things like big construction projects and tax overrides. They suggest you ask questions, get involved and vote - to have a greater say.
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