Taunton MA - Financial Information

TAUNTON COUNCIL ON AGING, 30 OLNEY STREET, TAUNTON, MA

TELEPHONE: 508-821-1425

FINANCIAL - REAL ESTATE/PERSONAL

REAL ESTATE TAX ABATEMENT/DEFERRAL

Senior Exemption - City of Taunton senior exemption amount is $500.00

Qualifications - Must be 70 years of age or older

If married, have less than $41,830 in assets (do not include house).

If married, have less than $27,093 annual income.

If single, have less than $39,041 in assets (do not include house).

If single, have less than $22,244 in annual income.

Income guidelines and asset amounts change July 1st of every year.

First time applicants should bring: Birth Certificate, savings accounts (passbook, statements), checking accounts (statements), rental income (if any), and statement from Social Security and/or pensions showing income for calendar year.

You must have been an owner of the property for at least five years.

You must have had a Massachusetts domicile for at least ten years.

Applications are available at the Tax Assessors office in City Hall, 15 Summer Street, Taunton, MA, Tel.- 508-821-1011

Legally Blind - Exemption for the legally blind is $437.50

Persons who are legally blind may be eligible for an exemption under Clause 37.

Applicants must submit a current certificate from the Commission for the Blind with each year's application. In the first year an application for exemption is filed, a statement from a doctor certifying blindness according to the Commission's specifications may be submitted.

Veterans - Veterans exemption amounts range from $250.00 - $950.00 per year.

Eligibility requirements and exemption amounts are different for each Clause (eight separate sections) covered under the veterans' exemption. Individuals should contact the City Assessor's Office at 508-821-1011 for additional information.

Applications for the Veterans exemption are available at the Tax Assessors office in City Hall,

15 Summer Street, Taunton

Senior Tax Work Off Program - Senior Tax Work Off program exemption is $750.00.

Program Description - Seniors will work in city departments and receive a maximum rebate of $750.00 (93.75 hours of work at minimum wage) per fiscal year. Program runs from July 1st - November 30th. Applications for positions are available at the Council on Aging Office, 30 Olney Street, Taunton. The application process starts in May of each fiscal year for the next fiscal year's program. Qualifications - Taunton residents who have reached age 60 and over

Can produce a current real estate tax bill

Homeowner in Taunton for a minimum of five years

Own and occupy the property for which you pay Taunton taxes and the rebate is requested.

Have difficulty meeting property tax payment

For further information/applications or any questions or concerns regarding your property tax exemptions or bills please contact: City of Taunton Assessors Office, City Hall, 15 Summer Street, Taunton, MA 02780 Tel. - 508-821-101

REAL ESTATE TAX DEFERRAL

Senior Property Tax Deferral - Allows seniors 65 or older who meet certain income and other requirements to defer all or part of their property taxes.

Qualifications - Clause 41A deferral status is determined as of July 1. Any eligibility requirements for the deferral must be met as of that date.

Applicant must be at least 65 years old on July 1.

Applicant must be a natural person (property cannot be in a trust) who owns the property on July 1 and has owned that property or another property in Massachusetts as a domicile for five years. The five years do not have to be consecutive. Ownership of any domicile in Massachusetts qualifies.

Applicant must be the sole owner or may own jointly with a spouse or other natural persons (property cannot be in a trust). The property may not be owned in whole or in part by a business, governmental or non-profit entity. If the applicant has co-owners, only the applicant must meet the current and durational domiciliary requirements.

As with personal exemptions, an applicant who holds a life estate in the property is considered its owner. If the property is held in trust, the applicant must be a trustee who also has a sufficient beneficial interest in the property.

Applicant must occupy the property as his or her domicile on July 1 and must have been domiciled in Massachusetts for the preceding ten years. The ten years must be consecutive, but the taxpayer need not have lived all of those years in the same location in Massachusetts. If the applicant has co-owners, only the applicant must meet the current and durational domiciliary requirements.

For an applications or any questions or concerns regarding the property tax deferral please contact: City of Taunton Assessors Office, City Hall, 15 Summer Street, Taunton, MA 02780 Tel. - 508-821-1011

Employees of Department of Human Services/Taunton Council on Aging are available to assist residents of Taunton with the completion of program applications. This assistance is available in the languages of English and Portuguese.

TAUNTON COUNCIL ON AGING, 30 OLNEY STREET, TAUNTON, MA

TELEPHONE: 508-821-1425

FINANCIAL PROBLEMS

Trouble paying bills, high credit card debt? Help with these issues can be found by calling a financial counseling center listed in the yellow pages of the telephone book. Programs are also available to assist you in paying for food, heat, etc. These helpful programs are listed in the City of Taunton Department of Human Services Resource Guide for Basic Needs.