Surviving Spouse

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 $175.00. 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 possess, as of July 1st of the tax year, the status of either (1) a surviving spouse or a minor with a parent deceased who owns and occupies the property as his domicile OR (2) a person 65 years or over who has owned and occupied the property as his domicile for at least 5 years.

Ownership

  1. To satisfy the ownership requirement, a person's interest in the domicile must be worth at least $2,000. A person may own this interest sole, as a joint owner or as a tenant in common.
  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)

Whole Estate

In addition, a person's whole estate, real and personal, cannot exceed the following:

Clause 17D - $40,000, excluding the total value of the subject property, not to exceed 3 dwelling units, and any unpaid mortgage balance on that property. For a property containing 4 or more dwelling units, the value of that portion exceeding 3 units must be included.

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.

The clause prescribe no limitation on annual income for exemption eligibility.