Frequently Asked Questions

If a bank or mortgage company escrows your taxes, you must ensure that they make timely payments. Most banks use a tax service that will notify them directly of the amount they need to pay for your taxes. However, if you have recently purchased, refinanced, or have a mortgage company that does not use a tax service, it will be up to you to notify them by forwarding your tax bill to them. Your mortgage company can tell you if you need to send them the bill and where to send it.

The payments must be received in the Collectors office on or before the due date to avoid interest charges. We do not accept postmark or the date on the check. Payments must actually be received in the office to avoid additional charges.

If payment is not made, the account will begin to accrue interest at the rate of 14% per annum, computed from the date the bill was due. A demand notice will be sent sometime after the fourth quarter due date each fiscal year. A demand fee of $10 will be charged against the account in addition to the interest. If the account remains delinquent after June 30th of the fiscal year, a tax lien can be placed on the property and recorded with the Registry of Deeds. A tax lien is the first step in the foreclosure process.

Overpayments will be applied to the next quarter unless it is the last quarter of the fiscal year. Otherwise refunds are handled as follows.

Real Estate or Personal Property Tax Refunds

A refund check is issued to a taxpayer who has a credit balance on their bill, provided that they supply the Tax Collector with the proper information, and they have no other outstanding taxes due and payable to the Town.

• If the credit was caused by overpayment, a request for refund should be accompanied by a copy of the canceled checks (front and back) for the fiscal year(s) in which the credit(s) exist. If the property has recently been purchased or refinanced, please also include a copy of the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Settlement Statement, which lists the details of the taxes paid at the closing. Please include your name, the property address, and the parcel ID with your request and payment information.
• If the credit was caused by abatement, the refund will automatically be issued unless the property has changed hands during the fiscal year. The refund will usually be returned to the record owner. If the property has been sold during the fiscal year to a new owner, the date of transfer (deed date) and the information on the HUD Settlement Statement will determine who is eligible for the refund. If you have any questions, please contact us.

It is Community Preservation Act. It is used to preserve Open Space, Affordable Housing, and Historic Preservation. It was approved by Town Meeting.

If you receive a bill, please forward it to the new owner immediately as it is his/her responsibility to make payment.

If you do not receive your bill, you should contact the Collector’s Office at 978-264-1715 to request a statement.

Bills are mailed four times (July, October, January, and April) per year for Real Estate and Personal Property.

1st Quarter

1st Quarter (Preliminary) pays for July, August, and September.

• Bills Mailed: July 1st
• Bills Due: August 1st

2nd Quarter

2nd Quarter (Preliminary) pays for October, November, and December.

• Bills Mailed: October 1st
• Bills Due: November 1st

3rd Quarter

3rd Quarter (Actual) pays for January, February, and March.

• Bills Mailed: January 1st
• Bills Due: February 1st

4th Quarter

4th Quarter (Actual) pays for April, May, and June.

• Bills Mailed: April 1st
• Bills Due: May 1st

Mail your tax payments to:
Town of Boxborough
29 Middle Road
Boxborough, MA 01719

Please make checks payable to the Town of Boxborough. If you do not have the payment portion of your bill, (remit copy) please include the address of the property for which you are paying, the owner’s name and parcel ID, if known. To obtain a receipt, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope with both the payment, payment coupon, and receipt portion of your bill.

Under state law, Chapter 60, Section 3, failure to receive a bill does not affect the validity of the tax or any interest or fines incurred due to late payment. It is the responsibility of the taxpayer to secure his/her tax bill when one is not received. If you do not receive a bill, you must contact the Collector’s office at 978-264-1715 for a statement. However, you must call before the due date of the bill.