Real Estate Property Taxes

Real Estate taxes are assessed on a fiscal year schedule (from July 1 through June 30).  The Town of Berlin bills are due Semi-Annually.  Tax bills are mailed in the fall and spring with due dates of November 1st and May 1st (or 30 days after issuance).

Massachusetts General Law (MGL) requires that the property tax bill must be sent to the owner of record as of the January 1 date immediately preceding the start of the fiscal year for which the bill is issued.  If you purchase property in Berlin after January 1, the subsequent fiscal year tax bill will be in the name of the previous owner with a C/O preceding your name indicating you as the current owner.  This can cause forwarding mistakes by the US Postal Service, so we recommend new owners who have not received a bill please call the Tax Collector's office to obtain a copy of their bill.  Please note that MGL states that failure to receive a tax bill does not invalidate the tax or the proceedings for collection.

Semi-Annual Tax Due Date

First Half

July 1 - December 31 (coverage period)

November 1st (or 30 days after the bill is issued)

Second Half

January 1 – June 30 (coverage period)

May 1st (or 30 days after the bill is issued)

Payment

Timely payment requires that payment is received in the Tax Collector's Office no later than 4:30 p.m. on the due date as stated on the bill.  Postmark dates are not acceptable as receipt dates.

Interest at an annual rate of 14% is assessed on all payments received after the due dates.  Any balance still outstanding after May 1st will result in the issuance of a demand bill and if still unpaid it is sent to our deputy for collection both of which incur fees as well as accrued interest.  Continued delinquency will result in the securing of a lien on the property through a tax-taking process.  Public notice of this process will be posted 14 days in advance in a local newspaper and 2 public places. A lien will then be recorded at the Worcester County Registry of Deeds.

Payments should be made payable to the TOWN OF BERLIN.  Please enclose the bottom portion of your bill with your payment. If you would like a receipted copy, enclose the entire tax bill with your check and a self-addressed stamped envelope.

Mortgage Companies

By law, real estate tax bills are sent to the property owner as of January 1 of the preceding year. If your mortgage company escrows your taxes, you may have to supply them with the tax payment information.  If your taxes are escrowed, please coordinate with your mortgage company to avoid double payments and escrow balance errors.