Boston Property Tax Guide – Pay, Search, Due Dates & Exemptions

How Do You Search and Pay Boston Property Tax?

Boston property taxes are administered by the City of Boston. Use Boston Property Lookup to identify your property and review assessment information. Use the City’s Tax Collection service to view bills, check payment details, and pay real estate taxes. The Assessing Department handles property values, exemptions, and abatement applications.

Choose Your Situation

Boston Assessing vs. Tax Collection: Who Handles What?

Boston separates property assessment responsibilities from tax collection. Contacting the correct office can prevent delays when you are trying to fix a bill or meet a deadline.

How to Search Boston Property Tax Records

Boston Property Lookup provides property identification, assessment, ownership and tax-related information. The official lookup supports searches by address or parcel ID. It does not offer owner-name searches.

Step-by-Step Property Search

1. Open the official property lookup.

   Visit properties.boston.gov. Confirm that you are using the City of Boston’s website before entering property information.

2. Search by address or parcel ID.

   Enter the property address or its 10-digit parcel identifier. The portal states that it does not support owner-name searching.

3. Select the correct property.

   Confirm the street address, condominium unit if applicable, property type and parcel number. Similar addresses may represent different accounts.

4. Review the assessment information.

   Check the property’s assessed value, classification, characteristics and fiscal-year details. Confirm the year displayed before comparing records.

5. Review taxes and exemptions.

   Open the relevant tax and exemption information available in the property record. Look for residential or personal exemption status.

6. Open the separate bill-payment service.

   If you need the current bill, payment history or amount due, follow the City’s official real estate tax billing and payment route.

Boston Property Search Identifiers

Find and Understand Your Boston Property Tax Bill

Boston sends real estate tax bills quarterly. Each bill relates to a specific fiscal year and installment. A previous bill is useful for reference but should not be treated as the current balance.

Check These Details on Your Bill

Why the First Two Bills May Differ from the Last Two

Boston’s first and second quarterly bills are preliminary installments based on the preceding fiscal year’s taxes. The actual fiscal-year assessment and tax rate are reflected when the third-quarter bill is issued in late December.

The third and fourth installments account for the actual annual tax calculation and the preliminary amounts already billed. Because of that reconciliation, the third-quarter amount may not match the first-quarter amount.

For additional help understanding statements, account balances and payment history, see our property tax bill lookup guide .

How to Pay Boston Property Tax Safely

Boston lists online, telephone, mail and in-person payment options for real estate taxes. Choose the official method that matches your bill and confirm any processing fees before submitting payment.

Before You Make a Payment

1. Verify the property.

   Match the address, parcel and account to your official tax bill.

2. Confirm the correct installment.

   Check the fiscal year and quarterly installment. Do not accidentally pay an old or unrelated bill.

3. Check mortgage escrow.

   If your mortgage servicer collects tax money, confirm whether the installment has already been paid or is scheduled for payment.

4. Review the current amount due.

   Check the official balance for payments, exemptions, adjustments, interest or other charges.

5. Select an official payment method.

   Review available electronic check, card, phone, mail or in-person payment options.

6. Review the fee and submit.

   Check the total amount and any processor fee before authorizing a transaction.

7. Keep payment proof.

   Save the confirmation, receipt and transaction date, then check that the payment posts to the correct account.

Boston Property Tax Payment Methods and Fees

Fee information reviewed: September 18, 2026, using Boston’s official payment instructions. Fees may change; the amount shown by the authorized processor at checkout controls your transaction.

Pay Boston Property Tax by Mail

Boston’s official instructions specify a check or money order payable to the City of Boston. Include the detachable payment coupon from your real estate tax bill.

For a broader comparison of payment methods, processing fees and receipts, read our property tax payment methods guide .

Boston Property Tax Due Dates for FY2027

Boston’s fiscal year runs from July 1 through June 30. Real estate taxes are billed in four installments. The regular due dates are August 1, November 1, February 1 and May 1, with the City’s published next-business-day adjustment when a due date falls on a weekend.

Verify the installment date, any revised bill or official notice, and the accepted payment cutoff directly with Boston before paying.

Important Assessment and Exemption Dates

Official Boston Assessing Calendar ↗

Boston Property Tax Rates and How Your Bill Is Calculated

Boston uses different tax rates for residential property and commercial, industrial and personal property. Tax rates are expressed as dollars per $1,000 of assessed value.

Published Boston FY2026 Tax Rates

These figures are historical FY2026 rates, not newly announced FY2027 rates.

Verify Boston’s officially published tax rates ↗

Understanding the Basic Tax Calculation

For a basic illustration, multiply the assessed value by the applicable rate and divide by 1,000. Then account for eligible exemptions and other charges or adjustments.

Boston’s Community Preservation Act Surcharge

Boston applies a Community Preservation Act surcharge to qualifying property tax bills. The City’s published calculation generally starts by deducting $100,000 from property value, recalculating the tax and applying eligible residential and personal exemptions.

The resulting revised net tax is used to calculate a 1% surcharge. The amount is distributed across the quarterly bills. Some owners may qualify for a separate CPA surcharge exemption.

Does Proposition 2½ Limit Your Individual Tax Increase?

Massachusetts Proposition 2½ constrains a municipality’s overall property tax levy through statutory limits. It does not guarantee that an individual property’s assessed value or tax bill can increase by no more than 2.5% in a given year.

A property’s bill can change because of valuation, property classification, changes to exemptions, and the applicable tax rate. Compare the actual bill components before deciding which issue needs correction.

Boston Property Tax Exemptions for FY2027

Boston offers residential and personal exemption programs for eligible property owners. These programs have different requirements involving ownership, residency, age, disability, veteran status and other qualifying factors.

Residential Exemption

The residential exemption is intended for qualifying homeowners who own and occupy their Boston property as their principal residence.

Boston applies the exemption when calculating the actual tax bill. Its published FY2026 information shows that qualifying homeowners could save up to $4,353.74 for that fiscal year. This is not a guaranteed FY2027 savings amount.

Other Boston Exemption and Relief Programs

Elderly Exemption 41C

Boston’s FY2027 Clause 41C program provides $1,000 in tax relief for qualifying applicants, with possible additional relief under the City’s published restrictions.

Applicants generally must satisfy the City’s age, Massachusetts domicile, ownership, income and estate requirements. Boston’s published FY2027 gross-income limits are $26,687 for a single applicant and $40,031 for married applicants.

Other financial and property-interest limits also apply. Do not assume that reaching age 65 alone establishes eligibility.

Official Boston Elderly Exemption 41C ↗

Veterans Exemptions

Boston administers multiple veterans-related exemption clauses. Eligibility and relief depend on the qualifying service, disability category, ownership, domicile and family circumstances.

The City’s FY2027 Clause 22 information lists $423 for certain eligible applicants, while other clauses provide different relief amounts. Some qualifying categories may receive a full exemption under applicable rules.

Official Veterans Exemption Requirements ↗

Senior Property Tax Deferral

Boston also provides a tax-deferral program for eligible older homeowners. This is different from an exemption because deferred taxes remain subject to repayment conditions.

Boston’s FY2027 instructions describe an age-65 requirement, ownership and residency conditions, a published gross-income ceiling of $75,000 that is subject to change, and 1% interest on deferred taxes.

The City explains that repayment is required when certain events occur, including property sale, transfer or death. Review the full program documents before applying.

Official Boston Senior Tax Deferral ↗

How to Apply for a Boston Property Tax Exemption

Boston generally makes residential and personal exemption applications available after actual third-quarter tax bills are issued.

1. Identify the exemption program.

   Review the City’s residential, elderly, veteran, blind or other exemption requirements.

2. Confirm ownership and eligibility.

   Check the relevant ownership, occupancy, domicile, age and financial requirements.

3. Search the official property record.

   Open Boston Property Lookup and find the correct property by address or parcel ID.

4. Locate the application.

   After applications become available, use the tax and exemption section associated with your property.

5. Gather supporting documents.

   Provide the ownership, occupancy or eligibility documents required by your specific exemption program.

6. Submit by the applicable deadline.

   Boston lists April 1, 2027, for FY2027 residential and personal exemption applications.

7. Check the decision and tax bill.

   Monitor application correspondence and verify that an approved exemption is reflected in the official tax records.

How to Appeal a Boston Property Tax Assessment

In Boston, the local process for requesting a reduction in an incorrect real estate tax assessment is called an abatement.

A property owner may seek an abatement when the property appears overvalued, disproportionately assessed, incorrectly classified or affected by another legally recognized assessment issue.

Assessment Review Checklist

FY2027 Abatement Filing Steps

1. Locate the actual third-quarter tax bill.
2. Review the assessment and identify the specific reason for requesting an abatement.
3. Gather supporting evidence relevant to the disputed assessment.
4. Obtain the correct Boston abatement application.
5. Complete any required Information Requisition Form.
6. Submit the application by February 1, 2027.
7. Keep a copy of the application and proof of filing.
8. Review the City’s decision and any further appeal instructions.

Boston’s instructions state that the FY2027 online abatement application will be available through Property Lookup starting January 1, 2027. Mail and in-person application routes are also described by the City.

What If the City Denies Your Abatement?

Boston explains that an applicant generally has three months from the Assessing Department’s decision to appeal to the Massachusetts Appellate Tax Board.

Read the decision notice and the Appellate Tax Board’s official filing requirements. Do not assume that the deadline starts on the date you receive or open the letter without checking the applicable rule.

Boston Property Tax and Mortgage Escrow

Some homeowners pay property taxes indirectly through mortgage escrow. Their mortgage servicer collects money as part of the monthly payment and later pays the taxing authority.

An escrow contribution is not the same as proof that Boston received a tax payment. Always check the official tax account.

Before Paying a Bill Yourself

1. Review your mortgage statement.

   Determine whether your loan includes a property-tax escrow account.

2. Check the escrow disbursement record.

   Look for a completed or scheduled property-tax payment.

3. Search the Boston tax account.

   Confirm whether the payment has posted to the correct installment.

4. Contact the mortgage servicer if necessary.

   If a payment is missing near the due date, ask for its status and payment confirmation.

5. Avoid duplicate payment.

   Understand whether the servicer has already paid before making another payment yourself.

New Homeowner Escrow Problems

A property-tax credit shown on closing documents may represent an adjustment between the buyer and seller. It does not necessarily mean the City received payment.

Compare the closing disclosure, new mortgage escrow setup and official Boston account. Confirm who is responsible for the next unpaid installment.

What Happens If Boston Property Taxes Are Late?

Unpaid Boston property taxes can lead to interest, demand notices, additional collection charges and eventually tax-lien proceedings.

The amount on an old bill may no longer equal the amount required to settle the account. Obtain an updated balance from Tax Collection.

Boston’s Published Late-Payment Rules

Boston’s tax-bill problem guidance describes interest at an annual rate of 14% from the day after a payment is due. It also describes demand and warrant charges that may apply during the collection process.

A delinquent account can develop further collection costs and legal consequences. Contact the City for the current payoff and account-specific status rather than calculating a payment from an old statement.

Late Tax Resolution Steps

1. Identify the property and fiscal year.
2. Open the official account or contact Tax Collection.
3. Request the current total, including applicable interest and charges.
4. Check whether any payment or escrow disbursement is missing.
5. Ask about the available official payment methods and any relevant collection deadline.
6. Save proof of payment and confirm that the account updates correctly.

Boston Property Tax for New Homeowners and Buyers

Buying property can create confusion when the tax bill still shows the previous owner, a mortgage servicer changes, or quarterly payments were prorated at closing.

Why Does the Bill Still Show the Previous Owner?

Boston’s tax instructions explain that the owner name printed on a bill can reflect ownership on January 1 before the fiscal year. A transfer may therefore occur before the printed bill information changes.

Real estate tax obligations attach to the property. Do not ignore a bill simply because it contains another owner’s name. Contact the appropriate City office if the ownership or mailing information requires updating.

Common Boston Property Tax Problems and Solutions

What If You Paid Twice?

Compare the official payment history with your bank records and mortgage escrow statement. Contact Boston Tax Collection to ask whether a credit or refund process applies.

Do not assume that duplicate payments are automatically refunded or that an independent website can reverse the transaction.

Boston Property Tax Office Contacts

These contacts are for City of Boston services. Confirm current hours and instructions before visiting or mailing documents.

Related Guides for Boston Property Owners

Use these additional guides for broader explanations. Boston’s official government website remains the authority for local account balances, tax rates, payment rules and exemption eligibility.

Official Boston Property Tax Links

The resources below lead to Boston government services and other appropriate official guidance. Use these sources to verify your actual property and complete government actions.