TOWN TO ISSUE THIRD QUARTER PRELIMINARY TAX BILL
This year's third quarter tax bill, issued December 31st, will look a little different than in previous years. For the first time in history Concord has requested permission from the Department of Revenue (DOR) to issue a preliminary tax bill for the third quarter.
Every three years the Department of Revenue (DOR) requires every municipality to undergo a complete revaluation. Concord is on this rotation for FY08 (July 1, 2007 to June 30, 2008). A revaluation begins in January and continues throughout the year. The DOR examines and tests all the mass appraisal processes used by the Assessors office. The proposed values, which are based on the assessment date of January 1, 2007, are then submitted to the DOR for certification. This certification is required before the town is able to set the tax rate and issue actual property tax bills.
Although the proposed FY08 values were submitted to the DOR at the beginning of October, the DOR did not give Concord preliminary certification before the deadline for printing the 3rd quarter bills. Thus, the tax rate could not be set by the Board of Selectmen and bills showing the tax rate and the assessed valuation could not be issued for the 3rd quarter.
If a town is not able to issue actual bills by December 31st, it may then request approval to issue a 3rd quarter preliminary bill. A 3rd quarter preliminary bill cannot be more than the amount of the first quarter preliminary tax installment. Thus, municipal utility liens and betterments may not be assessed on the third quarter preliminary tax bill.
Town officials anticipate being able to set the FY08 tax rate and to issue the actual FY08 tax bill before April 1, 2008. Municipal utility liens and betterments will be included on the fourth quarter actual tax bill. The due date for the 4th quarter bill is May 1, 2008. However, the bill may be issued in advance of April 1.
Abatements and exemptions may only be applied to an actual tax bill. Abatement applications can be submitted only after the actual tax bill is mailed, with a May 1, 2008, deadline. Exemption applications may be submitted at any time up to 90 days from the date the actual tax bill is issued.
Please contact the Assessor's Office at 978-318-3070 should you have any questions in this regard.
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