Any Belmont resident wanting to dispute their property tax assessment has until Monday, Feb. 3, to file for an abatement.
According to the town assessor’s site, abatements can be requested if you believe your property is overvalued; your property has been disproportionately assessed in comparison with other properties; your property has been classified incorrectly as residential, open space, commercial, or; you believe you are partially or fully exempt.
The Board of Assessors has three months to act on your abatement applications. State law prohibits assessors from acting on an application that is filed late.
If you are unhappy with the decision of the Board of Assessors—or if you have not received a notice of the Board of Assessors’ decision within three months—you may appeal to the Massachusetts Appellate Tax Board, a state agency that hears appeals from taxpayers who have been denied or not satisfied by the Board of Assessors decision at the local level.
The Belmont Voice has created a tool to help residents visualize the proposed assessment changes. Zoom to your area of town, and click on the colored dots to see the assessment information for each property. Interactions are easier on a larger screen.
