Property Tax Deferral for Persons Aged 65 or Older (Clause 41A)

Massachusetts

2017

No Variation in Receipt of Benefits

Deferral

The benefit is a deferral of annual property taxes for qualifying seniors. Individual deferral and recovery agreements are established annually between the taxpayer and the local board of assessors. The amount of taxes deferred shall not exceed the proportion of the total value of the property owned by the applicant and the total amount of taxes due (including interest charged at 8% annually) shall not exceed 50% of the owner’s share of the property. The state will place a lien on the property for the amount of the tax deferred plus interest which must be paid in full upon the transfer or sale of the property, or the death of the owner, unless a surviving spouse enters into a similar tax deferral agreement. Applications must be filed each fiscal year by 1 April or three months after the actual tax bills are mailed, whichever is later.

Other

Residential

Only residential property is eligible for this program.

Age

Homeowner

Income Ceiling

Principal Residence

Surviving Spouse

This benefit is available to persons: (a) aged 65 or older; (b) who have lived in the state for at least 10 years and owned or occupied property for at least 5 years, or are surviving spouses that have inherited such real property and occupied it for at least 5 years; and (c) have gross receipts of less than $20,000, whether filing jointly or individually (these limits may be increased by local option)

Local government is unable to exercise an option

Local option regarding program features

Local government covers all of its tax loss

State statutes do not provide for state funding for local tax loss.

MA105_RR17