Show All Answers

1. Can I pay my tax bills by credit or debit card or online?

At the present time, no, but we are hoping to offer these convenient payment methods in the near future. However, you may utilize your bill pay through your own personal computer to make a Real Estate, Personal Property, Excise or Water and Sewer payment. If you choose this method, please be sure to only reference your bill number. Your payment will be rejected if you use any other verbiage.

2. If I pay my property tax bill late, will I be charged any interest penalties?

Yes, interest is assessed at a rate of 14% per annum from the due date of the bill.

3. What is the Community Preservation Act (CPA) surcharge?

Voted by Town Meeting in May 2004,and then by a vote of the citizens at the November 2, 2004, election. The act allows our Town to accumulate additional revenue to provide much needed financial resources to expand and preserve our open space, historic, recreational and community housing . For residential property the value of the property is reduced by 100,000, considered an exemption. The tax is then calculated and a 2% surcharge is added. This is calculated each quarter to reflect any adjustments which may have been made to the tax due.
For more information please see Assessors’ section.
Assessor's Page

4. Do you give verbal tax information?

For 3 or fewer requests, we give the information over the phone. For inquiries over 3, we ask that the request be put in writing.

5. How do I pay a Real Estate bill?

• Real Estate taxes are billed and payable quarterly. Over the course of the Town's fiscal year (July 1 - June 30) bills are issued on or before the following dates: June 30, September 30, December 31 and March 31 and are due August 1, November 1, February 1 and May 1 (or the Monday that follows these dates if they fall on a weekend).

• If you have the bill, send a check and the Collector's copy of the bill in the envelope provided. If you don't have the envelope, send it to: Tax Collector, P.O. Box 920636, Needham, MA 02492-0908. Please do not include any correspondence as this envelope goes directly to the Town's bank for immediate deposit.

• If you do not have the bill, send a check with the owner's name, the property address, the tax period and amount being paid clearly indicated to: Tax Collector, Town of Needham, 1471 Highland Ave., Needham, MA 02492.

• If you pay your bills via your personal computer, you may use the bill payer option from your own bank account. Please be sure to only reference the Tax Account ID # if you are paying a Real/Personal Property tax bill. If you include any other verbiage, your payment may be rejected.

• If you want a receipt or need to pay by cash or simply want to pay in person, come to the Needham Town Hall at 1471 Highland Avenue, 1st Floor Collector/Treasurer’s Office between the hours of 8:30 am and 5:00 pm Monday though Friday.

• Questions regarding the payment of your bill can be directed to the Office of the Collector/Treasurer at (781) 455-7504.

6. How do I dispute my Real Estate taxes if I think the property value is too high?

The appeal process for disputing your property tax bill is via the Abatement Procedure. The application is available at the Assessor's Office in Town Hall and must be filed after the mailing of the Third Quarter tax bill (December), but no later than the close of business on February 1st. No abatement can be granted unless the application is filed on time.

Filing an appeal does not put your tax payment on hold. Tax payments need to be rendered in a timely manner in order to protect further appeal rights to the State.

For further information contact the Assessor's Office at (781) 455-7507.

7. How much do you charge for Municipal Lien Certificates?

The cost is $25.00 for residential property, $50.00 for farm and forest land, $50.00 for other undeveloped (vacant) land of an acre or more, $100.00 for land with four or more family residences and $150.00 for commercial/industrial/utility properties. Checks should be made payable to the Town of Needham and mailed with request to: Tax Collector, Town of Needham, 1471 Highland Ave, Needham, MA 02492 with a self-addressed, stamped return envelope.

8. How long does it take to get a municipal lien cerfiticate (MLC)?

State statute allows 10 days to produce the certificate, although generally we get out within 7 days.