Above: Take a look at the rainbow of tax relief programs the Town offers. (image cropped from flyer)
A new document issued by the Office of the Assessors demonstrating the many options for Southborough homeowners to get a break on their real estate property taxes.
The document was prepared as an insert for the Southborough Senior Center’s newsletter. But it covers categories that reach beyond seniors. And since I so often hear from residents frustrated about the increasing burden of Southborough taxes, I wanted to spotlight it in a separate post for readers.
(Before you complain in the comments — I realize that some of these exemptions are small compared to the full tax bill over four quarters. But it’s better than nothing!)
To get relief on taxes, residents:
must satisfy requirements relating to age or status, domicile, ownership, income and assets as of July 1 of the tax year, and provide supporting documentation
Even those who qualified in past years need to reapply each year. And this year’s application deadline is April 1st.
Click here to open the pdf, or click on the pic below right to enlarge.
Most of the programs offer tax exemptions (discounts). Those programs are available for qualifying:
- Widows/Widowers
- Veterans (plus their spouses/widows/widowers and Gold Star Parents)
- Legally Blind residents
- Seniors aged 65+
- Residents experiencing “Hardship”
There is also the annual “senior workoff” program for residents. For that program the options opens up five years earlier for ages 60+. That program is the exception to the Apply by April 1st on the flyer. A separate insert in the Senior Center’s newsletter explains that this year’s application doesn’t become available until April 1st and the applications won’t be accepted until April 7th. Click here to open the insert with details.
Two other programs offer deferrals — delaying making payments, with a low interest.
For Hardship Deferrals, those are time capped at 3 years. But for seniors ages 65+ who make less than $45K per household, that can be until they sell their property or “pass away”. (Although, you do need to apply each year to continue qualifying.)
In Southborough, the interest on Senior Deferrals is 2%. (There are some limits on how much can be deferred vs your proportional ownership share of the property value. So you’d need to confer with Town officials about the details.)
To learn more about any of the tax relief programs and if you or a loved one qualify, contact the Board of Assessors at 508-485-0720.
And if you do qualify for aid based on hardship, there may be other support you qualify for. To learn more about the Needs-Based support available through the Town, visit Southborough Youth & Family Services’ dedicated page here.
