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Treasurer/Collector RE & PP FAQs

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1. What is the Tax Rate for Fiscal Year 2024 (7/1/2023-6/30/2024)?

The FY24 Real Estate tax rate has been approved at $7.01 per $1,000.00.

2. When are the Real Estate/Personal Property Tax bills mailed?

Real Estate/Personal Property tax is billed Semi-Annually in two mailings. The First Half is mailed by October 1^st. The Second Half is mailed by April 1^st.  If your personal property or real estate tax bill is less than $100.00, it will be billed in the First Half only.

3. When are the Real Estate/Personal Property Taxes due?

Due dates – Semi – Annual Tax Billing System:

• First Half (July – December) due November 1^st                    
• Second Half (January – June) due May 1^st 

*Note: If payment due date falls on a weekend, the due date will move to the first Monday after the due date.

4. Can I pay my Real Estate tax for the entire year at one time?

Yes, you can pay either the First Half that is due November 1 or the entire bill; however, at least the First Half must be paid by the due date or interest will be charged.

5. To whom should I make my check payable, and can I write one check for more than one tax bill?

Please make checks payable to the Town of Eastham. Yes, you may submit one check for more than one tax bill, we ask that you include the collector’s payment coupon copy for each bill you are paying.

6. Where should I mail payment if I am paying late?

If it is past the due date, please submit payments directly to the Tax Collector's office: Town of Eastham, Tax Collector, 2500 State Hwy, Eastham, MA 02642.

Thank you.

7. Why is the payment coupon address in Boston, MA?

We use a lockbox service to process payments. Please make sure to include payment coupons when mailing your check or money order: 

Town of Eastham, MA

Department 1700

PO Box 986535

Boston, MA 02998-6535

8. My Real Estate taxes are paid by my mortgage company, why am I getting the tax bill?

By M.G.L. Chapter 60: Section 3 all tax bills are mailed to the owner of the property, not the mortgage company to whom your taxes are escrowed with. We have no way of knowing who your mortgage company is, if your mortgage was sold to another company, or if you have refinanced with a different mortgage company. We do not bill mortgage companies.

9. Do I need to send my Real Estate tax bill to my mortgage company?

It is advised to check with your mortgage company on wither or not they need a copy of the bill. Some mortgage companies require you to mail them a copy while others get the information electronically from a tax file.

10. I am the new owner of the property, why is the prior owners name still on the Real Estate bill?

M.G.L. Chapter 59 Section 11 states the name of the owner of record as of January 1 will appear on the tax bill for the next fiscal year (2 bills per fiscal year). The “C/O” in front of your name means Current Owner. You are the owner and are responsible for the property. Ex: Legal owner of record January 1, 2023 will appear on bills due 11/1/2023 & 5/1/2024.

11. What are Personal Property taxes?

Personal Property taxes are a surcharge only levied on properties which are not primary residences. They reflect the estimated value of the contents of the property, based on the assessed value of the property. They are also levied on businesses, based on the value of the business assets.

12. What if I didn’t receive or misplaced my Real Estate/Personal Property Tax bill?

You may access your bill online via CHS, instructions, here.  Under state law, Chapter 60, Section 3, failure to receive your property tax bill does not excuse you from payment of taxes, or from the interest and fees that accrue on the outstanding balance(s). A tax bill is generated and mailed for every property in the Town. It is the responsibility of the property owner to pay taxes regardless of receipt of a bill. 

13. How can I change my mailing address?

Please contact the Assessing Department to advise them of your new mailing address.

14. I recently sold my property and am still receiving a Real Estate or Personal Property tax bill – why, and what should I do?

If you sold your property on a date that is close to a tax due date, more than likely real estate bills were printed (with the prior owner’s name) prior to the transaction, and/or the Assessor’s Office hadn’t received the recorded deed from the Registry of Deeds. If you are unable to forward the bill to the new owners please return the bill to the Collector’s Office, 2500 State Hwy Eastham, MA 02642 (with a quick note informing us of property transfer) so we may forward the bill to the appropriate party. Please do so immediately for it is very important that the party responsible receive the bill in a timely manner.

 

If you received a personal property tax bill and were the legal owner as of the prior January, you are responsible for the entire Fiscal Year. For Example - You are the legal owner of a property 1/1/2021 and sell the property 8/15/21. You will be responsible for entire FY22 (7/1/21 - 6/30/22) Personal Property bill.

15. Is there a grace period on the Real Estate/Personal Property tax bills?

No. Interest starts to accrue the day after the due date.

16. Do you accept postmarks for payment date receipt?

No. Bills are considered paid when received in the Collector’s Office. Postmark dates on envelopes are not accepted as the date of payment. All payments are to be received by the Collector’s office by the due date. Late payments may incur interest/penalties.

17. Can I make partial payments on Real Estate/Personal Property?

Yes, partial payments are encouraged and show good faith. They also help keep interest down if the bill becomes delinquent. Please make sure to make note in the memo line of your payment which property / bill you are paying.

18. What are the interest rates for past due Real Estate/Personal Property bills?

Real Estate and Personal Property outstanding balances are subject to 14% interest according to Massachusetts General Law Chapter 59, sections 57 and 57C.  Tax Title interest rate is 16% under Massachusetts General Law Chapter 60, section 62.

19. I received a Real Estate/Personal Property Demand notice. Why?

Real Estate Demand notices are the initial step towards Tax Title Foreclosure. This Demand notice is an informational notice or a reminder to you, that taxes have not been paid. If you received a Demand notice, you should not ignore this bill.

20. My Real Estate taxes were delinquent, and my mortgage company paid them. Can they do this?

Yes. By M.G.L. Chapter 60, Section 58, if the whole or any portion of Real Estate tax remains unpaid after its due, the mortgage company may pay the amount due, including interest and charges, and it may be added to the mortgage debt.

21. What is a CPA Tax?

The Community Preservation Act surcharge was approved by the voters of the Town of Eastham beginning in Fiscal Year 2005. This surcharge is 3.0% of the total property tax due for the parcel and is used for the acquisition and preservation of open space, recreational land, affordable housing, and historic properties

22. I paid off my mortgage/equity, and need to release the lien on my property, where do I go to do this?

This can be done at the Barnstable County Registry of Deeds located at 3195 Main St/Rte 6A, Barnstable, (508) 362-7733. We cannot do this at Town Hall.

23. What are Real Estate Billing Steps?

Step 1 – Semi-Annual Tax Billing

Real Estate tax is billed semi-annually in two mailings. The First Half is mailed by October 1st. The Second Half is mailed by April 1st. Their due dates are the following:

• First Half due November 1st
• Second Half due May 1st

*Note: If payment due date falls on a weekend, the due date will move to the first Monday after the due date.

 

Step 2 – Demand Bill

Demand bills are issued after the 2^nd Half payment due date of May 1st on all outstanding accounts. Sending a demand is a prerequisite to pursuing certain collection remedies including tax takings. The taxpayer has fourteen (14) days to pay the Demand Bill.

The demand charge is currently $10.00, the interest rate is 14% on the unpaid amount calculated from the due date of each quarter.

 

Step 3 - Tax Title

A municipality has the right to take title to the taxpayer’s property and to under-take foreclosure proceedings when a taxpayer is delinquent in paying their local real estate or other local charges which constitute liens on the real estate (including but not limited to disposal liens and committed interest).

 

Once a year, notices will go out to owners of outstanding accounts stating their property will be advertised for tax title in the local newspaper. Approximately 14 days before tax title, the Collector will publish in the local newspaper a listing of accounts with dates, time, and place of tax title.

The Tax Collector, on the date of tax title, will prepare an “Instrument of Taking” and record the document in the Barnstable County Registry of Deeds. Fees, including interest to date of taking, advertising costs, preparation fees, demand, warrant and recording fees will be added to the tax title account and must be paid by the owner before the lien is released. The interest charged on the tax title account is then calculated at 16% from the date of taking to payment date.

 

The final payment of the tax title account will result in an Instrument of Redemption document that will required to be filed by the homeowner at Barnstable County Registry of Deeds to release the Tax Title status. The Town may proceed with foreclosure if no effort is made to pay tax title accounts. Initial land court filing fee as well as additional fees and charges will be added to the outstanding account, i.e. legal fees.

24. What are Personal Property Billing Steps?

Step 1 – Semi-Annual Billing

Personal Property tax is billed quarterly in two mailings. If the bill is less than $50.00, it will ONLY be billed on the First Half. The First Half is mailed by October 1^st. The Second Half is mailed by April 1^st. Their due dates are the following:

• First Half due November 1st
• Second Half due May 1st

*Note: If payment due date falls on a weekend, the due date will move to the first Monday after the due date.

 

Step 2 – Demand Bill

Demand bills are issued after the 2^nd Half due date of May 1st on all outstanding accounts. The taxpayer has fourteen (14) days to pay the Demand Bill.   

The demand charge is currently $10.00, the interest rate is 14% on the unpaid amount calculated from the due date of each half.

25. How do I get a receipt of payment?

Your cancelled check is your proof of payment. If you paid via mail, if you include a self-addressed stamped envelope along with your payment coupon & middle section of the bill, we will stamp the middle section as paid and return it to you. If you are paying in-person, please bring your entire bill and we will gladly stamp your portion as paid.