SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1569        FILED ON: 1/18/2013

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1453

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

James E. Timilty

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to property tax relief for senior citizens.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1569        FILED ON: 1/18/2013

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1453

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Thirteen

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An Act relative to property tax relief for senior citizens.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

Chapter 59 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following new section:-

Section 95.  Property tax freeze, persons age 65 and over

In any city or town which accepts the provisions of this section, the board of selectmen of a town or in a municipality having a town council form of government, the town council or the mayor with the approval of the city council in a city may establish a program through which an eligible resident may apply to freeze the amount of property tax owed by persons age 65 and over who have owned a principal residence in the town for 15 or more years.  Such cities and towns shall have the power to create local rules and procedures for implementing this section in any way consistent with the intent of this section.  To be eligible for the program a resident must (1) be age 65 or older by the end of the year of application (2) own his principal residence (3) have owned a principal residence in the city or town for at least 15 years (4) use the property as his principal resident for the duration of the year for which the property tax freeze is sought (5) file an application annually before the deadline established by the city or town.  The amount of property taxes owed by a resident deemed eligible for this program shall be the same each year that the resident submits an application and meets the eligibility requirements as in the first year that the resident is eligible.

In the event of an addition or other improvements to the residence that result in an increased assessed value of the residence, the tax rate in place at the time of the assessment shall apply to the addition or improvements to the residence and the tax owed thereon shall be added to the original amount owed by the eligible resident.

The department of revenue shall promulgate a standard application form for use by a city or town which adopts the provisions of this section.  The tax collector, or other official as authorized by the city or town, shall determine whether an applicant meets the requirements of eligibility for this program.

Nothing in this section shall preclude a person eligible for a property tax freeze under this section from receiving any other tax relief, including but not limited to tax credits or abatements, that may be available to him through the commonwealth or city or town.