REAL ESTATE & PERSONAL PROPERTY
What is the Real Estate & Personal Property Tax billing schedule?
The Town of Saugus collects Real Estate Tax and Personal Property Tax
on a fiscal quarterly schedule as follows:
Billing Period Date Bill is Mailed Date Tax is Due
First Quarter On or Before July 1st August 1st
Second Quarter On or Before October 1st November 1st
Third Quarter On or Before December 31st February 1st
Fourth Quarter On or Before April 1st May 1st
What types of Special Assessments can be added to my tax bill?
There are three Special Assessments that are currently being billed to
property owners on their Real Estate tax bill. Apportioned Sewer
Assessment, Apportioned Septic Assessment, and Unpaid & Overdue
Water and Sewer charges. The Apportioned Sewer Assessment is a
10-year fee paid for the installation of sewer pipeline in front of your
property, the Apportioned Septic Assessment is also a 10-year fee for
loans granted to improve septic systems that have failed Title V, and
Unpaid & Overdue Water and Sewer charges are the charges billed to
property owners for Water and Sewer service on a bi-annual basis. In
order to avoid these Special Assessments be sure pay these charges as
they are originally billed.
When does interest accrue on unpaid bills?
If you are unable to pay your tax bill, Massachusetts General Law
mandates that interest at 14% be added to the amount due from the
due date to the date of payment. A tax bill is considered “paid” upon
receipt by the Treasurer/Collector not the post mark on the envelope.
The Fiscal Years taxes must be paid in full by the May 1st due date
to avoid any further action to collect. Other collection fees can apply.
How can I pay my Real Estate and Personal Property tax bills?
All taxes can be paid by cash, personal check, or money order by mail
or in person at the Town Hall. In addition, you can pay your Real Estate
Taxes on-line by credit card or ACH payment from your checking account.
You can click on “Online Payments” on the home page of this web site.
If you are unable to make payment during regular business hours, a
yellow payment box is available in front of Town Hall. DO NOT
MAKE PAYMENTS IN CASH – USE THIS FOR CHECKS ONLY.
I bought the property this year, why is the former owner still appearing on the tax bill?
Property taxes are billed with the information as of January 1st preceding
the beginning of the current Fiscal Year. If you purchased the property
any time after January 1st, you cannot be listed as the assessed owner
until the next fiscal year. This rule is mandated by Massachusetts General
Law. However, if the Assessors Office is notified that there is a new
owner, as a courtesy the Assessors can add your name in “Care Of”.
What if I can’t pay my tax bill?
First check with the Town of Saugus Assessor’s Office to see if you
qualify for a tax exemption or tax deferral. If you still owe taxes, please
contact the Town Collector as soon as possible. Although we cannot
eliminate the tax, we can listen to your situation and offer possible solutions.
What is a municipal lien certificate and how much does it cost?
A Municipal Lien Certificate is a certificate prepared by the Town of
Saugus which lists any and all taxes and charges which may be due on
a parcel. If you wish to request a Municipal Lien Certificate you need
to do so in writing by providing us with the address and any other
identifying information such as Owner and Map Block and Lot. Please
be sure to include a self-addressed stamped envelope and the appropriate
fee as shown here. Once we receive the request, a certificate will be
prepared within ten (10) business days.
$25.00 Residential Single Family to Three Family
$100.00 Residential of Four Family or more
$50.00 Farms, forest land and all other real property
$150.00 Commercial, industrial, or public utility structure
EXCISE TAX
How is the amount of my Motor Vehicle & Trailer Excise Tax determined?
The amount of the Motor Vehicle & Trailer Excise Tax on any
Particular vehicle or trailer is calculated by multiplying the discounted
Value** of the vehicle by the Excise Tax Rate of $25.00 per $1,000 of
value. The $25.00 Excise Tax Rate applies to all communities in the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
It is important to note that, under Massachusetts General Law, the
minimum Excise Tax is $5.00.
**The discounted value of your vehicle is determined by multiplying
the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of your vehicle,
when it was originally sold by the manufacturer, by the applicable
discount rate as shown below:
In the year preceding the model year of vehicle 50%
In the model year of vehicle 90%
One year after model year of vehicle 60%
Two years after model year of vehicle 40%
Three years after model year of vehicle 25%
Four or more years after model year of vehicle 10%
How can I pay my bills?
All taxes can be paid by cash, personal check, or money order by mail
or in person at the Town Hall.
Online payments are accepted thru this web site - click on Online Payments and you will be linked
to the Unibank website.
If you are unable to make payment during regular business hours, a
yellow payment box is available in front of Town Hall. DO NOT
MAKE PAYMENTS IN CASH – USE THIS FOR CHECKS ONLY
When does interest accrue on unpaid bills?
Excise tax is due and payable 30 days from the date of issue. If you are unable to pay your tax bill, Massachusetts General Law mandates that
interest at 12% be added to the amount due from the due date to the date
of payment. A tax bill is considered “paid” upon receipt by the Treasurer/Collector, not the post mark on the envelope. Other collection
fees can be added.
What happens if I do not pay my Excise Tax?
If your Motor Vehicle Excise Tax bill is not satisfied, either through
making payment or receiving an abatement, you will receive a “Demand”
notice which includes interest at the rate of 12% per annum and $5.00 demand
fee which is due within fourteen (14) days from the date of issue. If this
tax remains unsatisfied the bill will be referred to the town’s Deputy Tax Collector for further collection activity which includes being issued and served with a “Warrant to Collect” and your Excise Tax being “Marked”
at the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles for non-renewal of your
Driver’s License and Vehicle or Trailer registration.
It should be noted that several other states have mutual agreements with
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to detain or impound “Marked”
vehicles found in other states where there is an outstanding Excise Tax.
How do I pay overdue Excise Taxes that have been marked at the Registry of Motor Vehicles for non-renewal?
Please contact our Deputy Collector, PKS Associates at (781) 944-8504.
You must make payment directly to their office. Once they receive
payment from you, they will contact the Registry of Motor Vehicles to
release your account so that you can renew your license and/or registration.
What do I do if I receive an Excise Tax bill from Saugus, but I am no longer living in the Town of Saugus?
Under certain circumstances you may still be required to pay the Excise
Tax to the Town of Saugus. If you do not live in the Town of Saugus
when you receive the bill, but you did live in the Town of Saugus
either on January 1st of the tax year, or when you registered the vehicle or
trailer, you should still pay the Excise Tax to the Town of Saugus. You
should then contact the Masssachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles to
change both your mailing address and the city or town in which your
vehicle is principally garaged (known as the garage code). Both of
these items need to be changed with the Mass. RMV in order for you to
receive your next Excise Tax bill from your new community rather than
the Town of Saugus. There is a link to the Massachusetts Registry of
Motor Vehicles on the first page of the Collector/Treasurers Office.
I received an Excise Tax bill on a car I no longer own. Where do I go for an adjustment?
Please contact the Town of Saugus Assessor’s Office for abatement
information.
What do I do if I feel my Motor Vehicle Excise amount is incorrect?
You may file for an abatement of your tax with the Board of Assessors.
If you contact the Board of Assessors at (781) 231-4130, the Assessors’
Staff will be able to assist you with any questions you may have relative
to completing the appropriate forms to file for an abatement.
Please remember that filing for an abatement of your tax does not stay
any collection activity. You should pay your Excise Tax as you were
billed and if you are granted an abatement from the Assessors, you will
receive a credit to your tax bill and, if applicable, a refund.
How often should I expect to receive an Excise Tax bill from the Town?
You should expect to receive one (1) Excise Tax bill relative to each
calendar year during which the vehicle is registered. If the vehicle was
not registered for an entire year, then the Excise Tax will be pro-rated
according to the number of months during which the vehicle was
registered - from the date of registration. It should be noted that under
Massachusetts General Law, proration of the Excise Tax is only allowed on a per month basis.
WATER AND SEWER CHARGES
How often are Water and Sewer bills issued?
Water and Sewer bills are currently issued on a bi-annual basis. The
periods that are billed are February to August billed in the fall, and
August to February billed in the spring.
How is my Water and Sewer bill calculated?
Water and Sewer charges are based on the total amount of cubic
feet of water that the meter on your property registered as having flowed
through your meter during the billing period as it is determined by the
reading taken from your meter.
The Water and Sewer rates effective July 1, 2005 are as follows:
Water Rates (per 100 cu ft) Sewer Rates (per 100 cu ft)
0 – 3,000 cu ft $77.62 (flat fee) 0 –3,000 cu ft $63.18 (flat fee)
3,001 – 10,000 cu ft $3.65 3,001 – 10,000 cu ft $2.46
10,001 – 20,000 cu ft $3.79 10,001 – 20,000 cu ft $2.81
20,001 – 50,000 cu ft $4.86 20,001 – 50,000 cu ft $3.16
50,001 – 100,000 cu ft $5.18 Over 50,000 cu ft $3.51
Over 100,000 cu ft $5.52
I am selling my property, how do I obtain a final Water and Sewer Bill?
Contact the Collector/Treasurer’s Office at (781) 231-4135 at least
seven (7) business days prior to the closing to schedule an appointment
for the Water Meter Technician to come to your property and conduct a
final meter reading. Once the final reading is obtained, the final Water and
Sewer bill must be picked up at the Collector/Treasurer’s Office prior to the
closing. The bill can be paid at the time it is picked up or submitted to your
attorney at the closing.
My water bill is unusually high, what should I do?
There could be a leak in some water using device in your home, such as
a toilet, faucet, sprinkler system, etc. that could be causing more than the
usual amount of water to be used. You should contact an experienced
plumber to check your pipes and other water using devices for leaks.
Please also take into consideration that the bill could be applicable to
the summer when water usage is naturally higher than the rest of the year.
When does interest accrue on unpaid bills?
Water and Sewer charges are due and payable 30 days from the date
of issue. Interest at the rate of 14% per annum begins to accrue from
the due date to the date of payment. A Water and Sewer bill is considered “paid” upon receipt by the Treasurer/Collector, not the post mark on the envelope. Late fees of $5.00 for unpaid water and $5.00 for unpaid sewer fees are also added once the “Demand” notice is sent.
What happens if I do not pay my Water and Sewer bill?
In addition to the assessment of a late charge, Water and Sewer bills that
are issued in the prior Fiscal Year and remain outstanding when the first
actual tax bill is issued January 1st will be added to the Real
Estate Tax on the property. These amounts will then be collected in the same manner as Real Estate Taxes which includes the assessment of interest and
the possibility of a lien being recorded against the property.
What is the Water Discount Program and do I qualify?
The Water Discount Program is a 10% discount offered once a year to residents of the Town of Saugus who meet the following conditions:
The applicant must must receive a real estate tax exemption
from the Board of Assessors.
The applicant must be the owner of record of the property
for which the discount is requested and his/her
name must appear on the water and sewer bill
for that property.
The consumption of water, by the applicant, shall not
exceed 3,000 cu ft for the two prior consecutive water
bills issued.
The discount shall only apply to owner occupied single-family
homes.
This discount will be applied on water and sewer bills issued in
the spring of each year.
An application for the 10% water discount must be submitted each year
during the period of January 1st – March 31st. The amount of the
discount is figured on 10% of the minimum water charge in effect at
the time of the application.
Click here for a copy of the Water Discount Application Form.
PARKING VIOLATIONS
I received a Parking Violation, how can I pay it?
Parking Violations can be paid by cash, personal check, or money
order by mail or in person at the Town Hall. If the parking ticket
has been “Marked” at the Registry of Motor Vehicles for non-renewal
on your license or registration, you must make payment in the form
of cash or money order. Personal checks will not be accepted.
If you are unable to make payment during regular business hours, a
yellow payment box is available in front of Town Hall. DO NOT
MAKE PAYMENTS IN CASH – USE THIS FOR CHECKS ONLY
I received a Parking Violation. How do I request a hearing with the Parking Clerk?
You may contact the Parking Clerk at (781) 231-4113 or by sending a request
to: the Parking Clerk, c/o Collector/Treasurers Office, 298 Central Street,
Saugus, MA 01906. Please include a phone number so that you can be contacted.
What happens if I do not pay the Parking Violation within 21 days of issue?
If a parking ticket is not paid within 21 days of issue you will be subject
to additional fines and penalties and possible “Mark” at the Registry of
Motor Vehicles for non-renewal of your license and/or registration.
How much are the Parking Violations in the Town of Saugus?
Effective December 13, 2005 Parking Violations are as follows:
Meter Violation $25 Within 10 feet of hydrant $100
Feeding Meter $25 Blocking Free Flow of Traffic $ 25
Overtime Parking $25 Double Parking $ 25
Not parking within
Marked space $25 Fire/Breakdown Lane $ 50
Over 12 inches from
Curb $25 Impeding Street Cleaning or
Snow Removal $100
Wrong Direction
Parking $25 Resident/Permit Parking Only $ 25
Parking Over 48 Hrs. $25 Snow Emergency $100
Restricted Area $25 Crosswalk $ 50
Driveway/Private Way Sidewalk $ 50
Blocking $25 Impeding Handicap Van/Ramp $300
Within 20 feet of an HP/DV Parking $300
Intersection $25
Bus Stop $25
Parking Taxi Stand $25
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