Municipalities in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts raise operating funds primarily through property taxation. In Newton, the property tax accounts for approximately 82 percent of the City's income.

State law has established a fiscal year which begins every July 1st and ends on June 30th

View Your Bills and Payments Online.

Tax Payments, Interest

The City of Newton has, for many years, issued property tax bills on a quarterly basis.  Installments are due every year on August 1, November 1, February 1, and May 1.

Under this system, property taxes for the first two installments (August 1 & November 1) are estimated, each based on one-quarter of the net taxes assessed in the prior fiscal year.

The last two installments (February 1 & May 1) constitute the "actual" tax bill, complete with the certified property valuation, tax rate and total tax for the fiscal year, reduced by the amounts of the first two quarterly installments.

Massachusetts law (G.L. ch. 59, s. 57C, 12th paragraph) mandates that payments received after the due date are subject to interest calculated from the day after the due date to the date when payment is made. The interest rate as provided by the law cited above is 14% per annum. Timely payments are those received in the Treasury Dept. by 5:00 p.m. on the applicable due dates.

Property Taxes

While every attempt is made to mail tax bills to property owners at least 30 days prior to the due dates, non-receipt of a tax bill by a taxpayer does not relieve one from the obligation of paying the property tax before the due dates. Property owners are advised to contact the Treasury Dept. if they have not received a bill within two or three weeks of the due date.

Tax Bills are also available online by Clicking Here.

Individuals that have recently purchased real estate in Newton should request that the bill be mailed to them at the appropriate address. Questions concerning assessed owners, assessments and mailing addresses should be directed to the Assessors Office.

Motor Vehicle Excise

Motor Vehicle Excise bills are issued once each calendar year to the owner(s) of each vehicle registered in Massachusetts. These bills are prepared from the records of the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles. The place of garaging of the vehicle, as of January 1, determines to what city or town the bill is payable.

The statewide tax rate for Motor Vehicle Excise is $25/$1,000 (or 2.5%) of assessed value. Bills are payable within 30 days from the bill date. As with property tax payments, excise tax payments must be received in the Treasury Dept. by 5:00 p.m. on the due date.

Please Take Note: Excise tax bills should not be ignored. The liability for the tax remains unless the bill is either paid or abated. If there is a question about a bill, contact the Board of Assessors immediately to have the problem resolved. Application for abatement does not stay collection of the tax. Should there be a delay in the granting of an abatement, it is wiser to pay the bill and receive a refund than to let the bill remain unpaid. Delinquent excise bills can accrue considerable charges and fees and may ultimately lead to suspension of the vehicle owner's license.