Massachusetts property tax appeals
Use our Massachusetts appeal guide and county filing facts now. Automated assessment checks are not open here yet, so tell us where you are and we will email you when they open.
Massachusetts assesses at the city or town level, not the county, at full and fair cash value each year. You file an abatement with your local board of assessors, usually by February 1, then can appeal to the state Appellate Tax Board. An appeal helps when sales show your value is above market.
- Recent comparable sales show your assessment is above what your home would sell for.
- The record has an error in your home’s size, condition, or features, or the value is disproportionate to similar homes.
- You file with your city or town board of assessors by the first installment due date, usually February 1.
- Your bill went up but your assessed value is fair. A higher bill often comes from the tax rate, not the assessment.
- You have no market evidence. The abatement reviews your home’s value, not the size of your bill.
Read the full explanation
In Massachusetts, your city or town, not the county, assesses your home every year at full and fair cash value. If you think your value is too high, you file an abatement application with your local board of assessors. In most communities the deadline is February 1, the due date for the first installment of the actual tax bill, or the next business day if that date is a weekend. If the board denies you, you can appeal to the state Appellate Tax Board. An appeal helps when recent sales show your assessment is above what your home would sell for, or the record has an error. It usually will not help just because your tax bill went up. This is general information, not tax advice.
Source: Massachusetts Department of Revenue · checked 2026-07-18. We're publishing verified county filing facts as each review is completed. Automated assessment checks will follow our rollout schedule.
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