Petersham Board of Assessors
3 South Main Street, P.O. Box 87 Petersham, Massachusetts 01366
Office Hours: Monday thru Wednesday 8:00am-12:30pm and 1:00pm-4:00pm
Contact Name: Ellen Anderson, Chair
Contact Phone: 978-724-6658 / 978-724-6660 (fax)
Contact E-mail: petershamboa@ymail.com
Board members:
Ellen Anderson, Chair
Jean Robinson, Clerk
Dana Kennan, Member
Andrea Gale, Assistant Assessor
3 South Main Street, P.O. Box 87 Petersham, Massachusetts 01366
Office Hours: Monday thru Wednesday 8:00am-12:30pm and 1:00pm-4:00pm
Contact Name: Ellen Anderson, Chair
Contact Phone: 978-724-6658 / 978-724-6660 (fax)
Contact E-mail: petershamboa@ymail.com
Board members:
Ellen Anderson, Chair
Jean Robinson, Clerk
Dana Kennan, Member
Andrea Gale, Assistant Assessor
THE ROLE OF ASSESSORS IN MUNICIPAL FINANCE
In Massachusetts, Assessors are either appointed or elected to three-year terms. State law requires that Assessors value all Real Estate and Personal Property subject to taxation. Assessed valuations are based on “full and fair cash value” as of the January 1st preceding each fiscal year. All of the Assessors’ activities are intended to insure that taxpayers pay an equitable tax. Every year Assessors conduct market studies to determine what value adjustments are required to maintain property values at or near 100% of market value. The State Department of Revenue (DOR) requires Assessors to submit their valuations for review and certification every three years. Assessors do not raise or lower taxes. That responsibility falls to those citizens who choose to be involved with Town Meeting and budget preparation process. Assessors simply assess taxes in an amount sufficient to cover state and local appropriations.
In Massachusetts, Assessors are either appointed or elected to three-year terms. State law requires that Assessors value all Real Estate and Personal Property subject to taxation. Assessed valuations are based on “full and fair cash value” as of the January 1st preceding each fiscal year. All of the Assessors’ activities are intended to insure that taxpayers pay an equitable tax. Every year Assessors conduct market studies to determine what value adjustments are required to maintain property values at or near 100% of market value. The State Department of Revenue (DOR) requires Assessors to submit their valuations for review and certification every three years. Assessors do not raise or lower taxes. That responsibility falls to those citizens who choose to be involved with Town Meeting and budget preparation process. Assessors simply assess taxes in an amount sufficient to cover state and local appropriations.
PETERSHAM MAPS & PROPERTY RECORDS ONLINE
Petersham property maps and records are now available online by selecting the link below.
The maps will open in a new window
AXISGIS
Petersham property maps and records are now available online by selecting the link below.
The maps will open in a new window
AXISGIS
PETERSHAM TAX RATE AND BILLS
The Town of Petersham FY2019 Tax Rate is $16.93 per thousand of value. Tax Bills will be due and payable, April 1st, 2020. Filing deadline for abatement’s and exemptions is Friday, April 1st, 2020, and must to be in the hands of the Board of Assessors before 3pm. Interest on late payments is 14 percent per annum. If you own property in Petersham and do not receive a tax bill, please contact Tax Collector at petershamtax@verizon.net or 978-724-6620.
Dana W. Kennan, Chairman
Petersham Board of Assessors
The Town of Petersham FY2019 Tax Rate is $16.93 per thousand of value. Tax Bills will be due and payable, April 1st, 2020. Filing deadline for abatement’s and exemptions is Friday, April 1st, 2020, and must to be in the hands of the Board of Assessors before 3pm. Interest on late payments is 14 percent per annum. If you own property in Petersham and do not receive a tax bill, please contact Tax Collector at petershamtax@verizon.net or 978-724-6620.
Dana W. Kennan, Chairman
Petersham Board of Assessors
FAQ
I BOUGHT A HOUSE—WHY IS THE PREVIOUS OWNERS NAME STILL ON THE TAX BILL?
The official real estate taxpayer (taxpayer of record) for any tax year (fiscal year) is the owner on January 1 of the calendar year that the tax year (fiscal year) begins. The taxpayer of record does not change over the course of that tax year (fiscal year), even if the property changes hands during that time. Although the tax bill will bear the name of the assessed owner (taxpayer of record/previous owner) as of January 1, the new owner is responsible for all taxes once the sale of the property is finalized. For example, Owner A sells to Buyer B in June 2015. Owner A is the taxpayer of record for the entire tax year (fiscal year) from July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016 and both real estate tax bills will be addressed to Owner A in care of Buyer B. During the next fiscal year, Buyer B owns the property on January 1, 2016, bills for the tax year from July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2017 and beyond will be addressed to Buyer B. The office of the Board of Assessors -who issue the tax bills- can mail the bill in care of the new owner at the same or a different address as long as they are notified by the new owner. If the new owner notifies the office of the Assessors of the change, the subsequent bills will then be addressed to Owner A in care of Buyer B.
I BOUGHT A HOUSE—WHY IS THE PREVIOUS OWNERS NAME STILL ON THE TAX BILL?
The official real estate taxpayer (taxpayer of record) for any tax year (fiscal year) is the owner on January 1 of the calendar year that the tax year (fiscal year) begins. The taxpayer of record does not change over the course of that tax year (fiscal year), even if the property changes hands during that time. Although the tax bill will bear the name of the assessed owner (taxpayer of record/previous owner) as of January 1, the new owner is responsible for all taxes once the sale of the property is finalized. For example, Owner A sells to Buyer B in June 2015. Owner A is the taxpayer of record for the entire tax year (fiscal year) from July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016 and both real estate tax bills will be addressed to Owner A in care of Buyer B. During the next fiscal year, Buyer B owns the property on January 1, 2016, bills for the tax year from July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2017 and beyond will be addressed to Buyer B. The office of the Board of Assessors -who issue the tax bills- can mail the bill in care of the new owner at the same or a different address as long as they are notified by the new owner. If the new owner notifies the office of the Assessors of the change, the subsequent bills will then be addressed to Owner A in care of Buyer B.
FORMS
