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NOTICE OF CYCLICAL PROPERTY INSPECTIONS
The Assessor’s Office will conduct cyclical property inspections as required by Massachusetts law. Each property must be inspected at least once every ten years to ensure assessments remain accurate and fair. Read on...
About/Responsibilities
The Board of Assessors is responsible for the full and fair market valuation of real and personal property for the purposes of levying the property tax as of January 1st every year. It is the responsibility of the assessor’s office to maintain valuations at full and fair cash value and to meet the Commissioner of Revenue's re-certification requirements of property valuation every three years. The assessor’s office collects and maintains a database on each parcel of property in town.
The assessor's office is responsible for the administration of the 30,000 excise bills which are issued by the Registry of Motor Vehicles annually, as well as subsequent excise commitments.
The Chelmsford Board of Assessors is appointed by the Town Manager and consists of three members for staggered three-year terms. Board members must qualify as Assessors by fulfilling the course and testing requirements outlined by the Department of Revenue. To learn more about the board, please visit their webpage.
An abatement is when the assessed value of a property is reduced. You can apply for an abatement every year between January 1st and February 2nd, if you believe your property is overvalued or not assessed correctly. You need to fill out specific forms available in PDF format and submit them by February 2nd to the Assessor's Office.
Access the Application for Abatement Form.
Please see the latest Tax Classification presentation or contact the Assessor’s office with any questions.
The motor vehicle excise tax is a fee for using Massachusetts roads and registering a vehicle. Each year, the tax is calculated based on information from your insurance company and the Registry of Motor Vehicles. The tax rate is $25 per $1,000 of the vehicle's value, which decreases each year based on a schedule. You can apply for an abatement if you sell the vehicle, move out of state, or have other qualifying reasons. Contact the Assessor's Office for more information on abatements or visit the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles website for assistance.
The Town’s fiscal year begins on July 1st and ends on June 30th of the following year. This timeframe is important for managing our finances, including budgeting and expenditures, to ensure our community's needs are met effectively.
By state statute, Assessor records must identify the owner of each parcel as of January 1st. If the parcel transfers after January 1st, the new owner is reflected on the second line "in care of" for that fiscal year. The new owner will be identified on the first line of ownership the following January 1st.
Proposition 2 1/2 limits the property tax levy dollar amount raised to support annual budgets of cities and towns.