Elderly Exemption

A tax exemption is a discharge from the obligation to pay all or a portion of a tax. Exemptions are conferred by the Legislature on particular categories of persons or property.

Exemption Amount

The exemption amount is $500.00. By local option, upon acceptance by town meeting, this amount may be annually increased by an amount not to exceed the increase in the Consumer Price Index.

Applications

Applications must be filed annually with the Board of Assessors on or before December 15th, or three months after the actual tax bills are mailed, whichever is later. Filing an application does not entitle the applicant to a delay in tax payment.

For the application,  click here

Documentation

An applicant for an exemption must provide to the assessors whatever information is reasonably required to establish eligibility. This information may include, but not be limited to:

  1. Birth Certificates.
  2. Evidence of domicile and occupancy.
  3. Income Tax Returns.

Number of Exemptions

Not more than one exemption may be granted under this exemption on the same parcel of real estate.

Eligibility Requirements

For eligibility, an individual must satisfy requirements relating to (1) age (2) ownership and domicile (3) annual income and (4) whole estate or assets. All eligibility requirements must be met as of July 1st of the tax year.

Number of Exemptions

Not more than one exemption may be granted under this clause on the same parcel of real estate.

Age

An individual must be (a) 65 years or older or (b) joint owner with a spouse 65 years or older as of July 1st of the tax year.

Ownership

Under this clause, an individual must own and occupy the subject property on July 1st of the tax year. In addition to so owning and occupying the subject property, an individual must have been continuously domiciled in Massachusetts for the 10 years before the application and have owned and occupied the property or any other property in Massachusetts for 5 years.

  1. To satisfy the ownership requirement, a person's interest must be worth at least $4,000. The person may own this interest solely, as a joint owner or as a tenant in common. However, if the person owns the property with someone other than a spouse, the exemption amount is reduced to that proportion of $500 as the person's ownership interest in the property.
  2. The holder of a life estate satisfies the ownership requirement.
  3. If the domicile is held in a trust, a person can only satisfy the ownership interest if:

a) Is a trustee or co-trustee of that trust, and

b) Possesses a sufficient beneficial interest in the domicile through that trust. (Splitting the interest between multiple trusts does not qualify)

Income and Asset Limits

Gross receipts minus social security allowance must be less than:

  • $20,000 if single
  • $40,000 if married

Whole estate less the value of the home less any portion that exceeds three dwelling units and produces income cannot exceed:

  • $30,000 if single
  • $55,000 if married

The value of a person's (a) cemetery plots, (b) wearing apparel and (c) household furniture and effects kept at the domicile should be excluded from the calculation of the person's whole estate for purposes of this clause.