Personal  Property

             The Board of Assessor’s may require an owner or lessee of personal property to provide certain      

      Information in writing, as may be reasonably necessary, to determine the actual fair cash valuation of

      The  property. Failure to comply with the request within thirty (30) days will bar any appeal of the tax

      Assessed , unless the owner or lessee was unable to comply with the request for reasons beyond his or

      Her control. Any false statement that is knowingly made will also bar the taxpayer from any statuary

      Appeal.

     Questions about valuation or abatement requests can be directed to Assessor’s Office at (508) 867-0209

     Questions about payments or balances can be directed to the Town Collector at (508) 867-0202 or

     Email us.

     Q:    What is personal property?

     A:

              Personal property is all tangible property other than real property, including, but not limited to:

              Business equipment, office machinery, inventory, furniture and fixtures not located at the owner’s

              Domicile on January 1.   

     Q:     Who must pay this tax?

     A:

·         Individuals, Partnerships, Associations, Trusts, Limited Liability Companies (LLC)

Filing federally as partnerships, disregarded entities (except LLC or other entity electing to

Be treated federally as disregarded entity with S corporation as its sole member) and other

                         Non-corporate entities.

·         Massachusetts Business and Out-of-State Corporations as defined in the

M.G.L. Chapter 63, Section 30, including Limited Liability Companies filing federally as

Corporations, or electing to be treated federally as disregarded entities having S

corporations as their sole members; and Mutual Insurance Holding Companies.

·         Massachusetts and Out-of-State manufacturing corporations and Limited Liability

Companies filing federally as corporations, or electing to be treated federally as

disregarded entities having S corporations, as their sole members, that have been classified

 as “manufacturing” by the Department of Revenue.

·         All other Massachusetts Corporations subject to taxation under G.L. Ch. 63, including

Financial institutions, insurance companies, savings and cooperative banks and utility

Corporations and all other Out-of-State Corporations subject to taxation under M.G.L.

Chapter 63, Sections 20, 23, 52A & 58 and insurance companies if state of incorporation

(or principal place of business if incorporated in foreign country) exempts similar tangible

personal property of Massachusetts insurance companies. See Acts of 1941, Chapter 467.

·         All other Out-of-State insurance companies.

        Q:    What property is taxable?

        A:  

                 In general, all tangible personal property situated in Massachusetts and all tangible personal

                 Property owned by Massachusetts domiciliary is taxable unless expressly exempt. There are

                 Many exemptions, which are usually based on (1) ownership, (2) type of property, or (3) use

                 Of  property.

        Q:     What is a form of list?

        A:

                 State Tax Form 2 is a form listing all personal property assets of an organization for the current

                 fiscal year. Filing a form of list is required by statute. Each year, prior to March 1, all persons

                 Subject to taxation in a city or town must submit a list of all their personal property, which is not

                 Exempt from taxation. These personal estate items must be included on the documentation

                 known as Form of List.  Blank forms of List are available at the Assessor’s Office. The Form of

                 List is due by March 1 preceding the fiscal year. For example, the Form of List for fiscal year

                 2012 is due on March 1, 2011. The Board of assessor’s will determine the valuation, based on

                 standard reference tables. In the event that a taxpayer does not submit the List, the assessor  will

                 Ascertain, as best they can, the personal estate belonging to the tax payer and will estimate its

                 value . THE FORM LIST IS NOT OPEN TO PUBLIC INSPECTION.

        Q:     Who must file a return?

        A:

                 This form must be filed each year by all individuals, partnerships, associations, trusts and

                 Corporations that own or hold taxable property on January 1, except telephone and telegraph

                 Companies and owners of pipelines that are required to file a personal property return with the

                 Mass. Dept. of revenue.

                 Individuals owning or holding household furnishings and effects not located at their domicile on

                 January 1 must also file State Tax Form 2HF. Literary, temperance, benevolent, charitable or

                 Scientific organizations that may be entitled to an exemption must file State Tax Form 3ABC

                 Listing all property they own or hold for those purposes on January 1.

         Q:    When and where must my return be filed?

         A:

                 Form of List must be filed by March 1 with the Board of Assessors in the city or town where the

                 Personal property is situated on January 1. The principal exception is in situations where

                 Personal property has only a temporary location as of January 1, then it must be listed on a Form

                 Of List filed with the assessors in the city or town where the owner is domiciled (legal residence

                 Or place of business). A Form of List is not considered filed unless it is complete.

         Q:    Can I get an extension of the filing deadline?

         A:

                  The Board of Assessors may extend the filing deadline if you can show a sufficient reason for

                  Not filing on time. The latest date of filing deadline can be extended is 30 days after the tax bills

                  are mailed for the fiscal year. Requests for an extension must be made in writing to the

                 Assessors.

         Q:     What is the penalty for failure to file or filing late?

         A:

                  There is a penalty for failing to file the Form of List pursuant to M.G.L. Chapter 59 , Section 64.

                  If you do not file a Form of List for the fiscal year , the assessors cannot grant an abatement. If

                  If you  show a reasonable excuse for filing late, the tax  assessed cannot be reduced lower than

                  150% of the amount that would have been assessed if the list had been timely filed. In that case,

                  Only the amount over that percentage can be abated . you can avoid this penalty by filing on

                   Time.

         Q:     What is the return used for and who has access to it?

         A:

                   The information in the Form of List is used by the Board of Assessors to determine the taxable

                   Or exempt status of your personal property and, if taxable, its fair market value. You may also

                   Be required to provide the assessors with further information about the property in writing and

                   asked to permit them to inspect it. Forms of List are not available to the public for inspection

                   under the public records law. They are available only to the Board of Assessors and Mass.

                   Dept. of Revenue for purposes of administering the tax laws.

         Q:    Who is eligible for an abatement?

         A:

                   Anyone who feels that their personal property is overvalued or exempt may file for an

                   abatement . You must file an abatement form at the Assessor’s Office between January 1

                   And February 1 of the current tax year. Only the current is eligible for abatement or

                   exemption . Please visit the Assessor’s web page to download necessary form.

         Q:     What property is exempt?

         A:

                   Tools employed by plumber , carpenter , auto mechanic and other trade professionals are

                   Exempt from the personal property tax, in legal terms, this exemption covers “ tools of the

                   Trade” of a “ mechanic “ (e.g., small tools that can fit in a tool box). Boats, fishing gear and

                   Nets – up to $ 10,000 in value – owned and used in a commercial fishing business are exempt.

                   Tools of other professionals not listed are considered taxable. These include dentist’s drills

                   And x-ray machines. Computers are also subject  to the personal property tax, but in  cases

                   Where they are utilized by a corporation for internal purposes only (e.g. for such functions as

                   Internal accounting or administrative operation), computers are not subject to taxation.

                   Tangible personal property subject to some other type of local tax is also exempt from the

                   personal property tax. Motor vehicle and trailer excise, ship and boat excise, the farm animal

                   And equipment excise, and mobile home park license fees are all included in this category.

                   Intangible personal property is exempt from the personal property tax. Intangible property

                   includes stocks, bonds and cash, mortgages and other evidence of ownership of property rights.

·         For Individuals, Sole Proprietors, Partnership, Associations, Trusts, Limited

Liability Companies filing as Partnership, and Out-of-State Insurance Companies

Not having a reciprocal exemption agreement with Massachusetts :

Individuals are entitled to an exemption for (1) household furniture and effects at the place

Their domicile, (2) farm utensils and (3) tools of a mechanic’s trade.

Tangible personal property that is taxable includes: Poles, underground conduits, wires,

Pipes, machinery, tools & equipment, business furniture and fixtures, merchandise,

Unregistered motor vehicles and trailers, animals, and forest products      

·         For Massachusetts Business and Out-of-State Manufacturing Corporations,  Limited

Liability Companies (filing federally as Corporations) and Mutual Insurance

Holding Companies:

Tangible personal property that is taxable includes poles, underground conduits, wires, and

pipes. All “machinery used in the conduct of business” is taxable except machines that are:

(1) stock in trade, (2) used directly in dry cleaning or laundering processes, to refrigerate

Goods or to air condition premises, or (3) used directly in purchasing, selling , accounting

or administrative functions.

·         For Massachusetts and Out-of-State Manufacturing Corporations and Limited

Liability Companies (filing federally as corporations which have been classified as

“ Manufacturing” by the Department of Revenue):

Tangible personal property that is taxable includes poles, underground conduits, wires,

And pipes. All tangible personal property used in the manufacture or generation of

electricity except property that (1) is a cogeneration facility of 30 megawatts or less in

Capacity, or (2) was exempt because of a  manufacturing classification effective on or

Before January 1, 1996.

·         For All Other Massachusetts Corporation Subject to taxation under M.G.L. chapter

63 including: Financial Institutions, Insurance Companies, Savings and Cooperative

Banks, Utility Corporations, Out-of-State Public Service Corporations subject to

Taxation under M.G.L. Chapter 63, Section 58 and Out-of-State Insurance Companies

if the state of incorporation exempts similar tangible personal property of

Massachusetts insurance companies:

Tangible personal property that is taxable includes poles, underground conduits, wires,

pipes and machinery used in the manufacture, or in supplying, or distributing water.

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