LEGAL NOTICE
TOWN OF MEDFIELD
TAX CLASSIFICATION PUBLIC HEARING
ATTN: TAXPAYERS
The Medfield Select Board will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, December 5, 2023, at 7:00 PM in the Chenery Meeting Room, 2nd Floor, Town House, 459 Main Street, for tax classification purposes.
The central issue to be discussed during this tax classification hearing is whether all five classes of property: residential, open space, commercial, industrial, and personal shall be taxed at the same rate or at different rates for the fiscal year 2024. (MGL c.40, sec.56) The Board of Assessors will provide relevant information regarding the tax rate including the fiscal effects of available alternatives.
Interested taxpayers are urged to attend the hearing. Written and oral statements from interested taxpayers will be accepted by the Select Board's office and considered at the hearing.
FISCAL YEAR 2023 REAL ESTATE VALUES
Property values have increased town-wide. Some property valuations have increased more than others due to the increase in their respective neighborhoods or housing factors (including building permits and corrections).
The Department of Revenue requires assessments to be based on fair market value (sales). The FY 2023 assessments are based on the calendar year 2021 sales. Sales prices have been strong over the last several years in Medfield, with very large increases seen since the end of 2020-today. Residential assessed values on average went up 16.5%. The tax levy, the amount needed to be raised through taxation has increased by approximately 3% over last year. These two factors reduced the tax rate from $17.42 (FY 2022) to $15.43 (FY 2023). The average single-family tax bill is $12,952.
Excise Tax Information
Motor Vehicle/Trailer/Boat
All Massachusetts residents who own and register a motor vehicle must annually pay a motor vehicle excise. The excise is levied by the city or town where the vehicle is principally garaged and the revenues become part of the local community treasury.
Excise bills are prepared by the Registry of Motor Vehicles according to the information on the motor vehicle registration. They are sent to city or town assessors who commit them to the local tax collectors for distribution and collection of payment.
Per M.G.L. 60A§1, the vehicle valuation is a percentage of the original Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP). The percentage used is determined by the model year of the vehicle (also known as the designated year of manufacture), please see the table below for more information. Once a vehicle reaches the 5th year, that vehicle will remain at 10% of the original MSRP for the life of the vehicle. For excise tax purposes, the price paid and vehicle condition are not considered. If the owner believes the valuation is incorrect, they can contact the Registry of Motor Vehicles at 1-857-368-8000.
| Excise Assessed For: | % of MSRP |
| The year before the model year (e.g. 2020 model purchased in 2019) | 50% |
| Model year (2020) | 90% |
| 2nd year (2021) | 60% |
| 3rd year (2022) | 40% |
| 4th year (2023) | 25% |
| 5th and following years (2024 and after) | 10% |
Abatements can be filed if the vehicle was sold/traded/scrapped/totaled or donated during the year in which it is being taxed or if the owner moved and registered the vehicle in another state. When an abatement is granted, excise bills are prorated by the month.
In order to process an abatement on your motor vehicle excise tax bill you must provide documentation to verify the disposition of both the Plate (e.g. was it transferred or turned in?) and the Vehicle (e.g., was it sold, a total loss, etc.?).
Please be advised, that you are not entitled to an abatement by just canceling your registration.
Required documentation to verify the disposition of the Plate (Please submit one):
- Plate Cancellation Receipt (with VIN#)
- Registration from your new vehicle showing plate transfer
- Affidavit of Lost or Stolen Plate (C-19 form)
Required documentation to verify the disposition of the Vehicle (Please submit one):
- Bill of Sale (with VIN# and signed by both the seller & buyer)
- Copy of the title (both sides and signed by both the seller & buyer)
- Purchase Agreement citing vehicle as a trade-in (with VIN#)
- Insurance Settlement Letter showing you conveyed title to the Insurance Co (with VIN#)
- Copy of Donation Letter (with VIN#)
- Repossession Letter (with VIN# and repossession date)
- Junk Yard Receipt (with VIN#)
Other documentation that may be required depending on individual circumstances:
- Registration Form from a new state or country
- Letter from Commanding Officer (non-domiciliary serviceperson)
- DV plate registration or letter from RMV stating eligibility for DV plate
- Insurance coverage selection sheet showing the principal place of garaging
Note: No excise may be reduced to less than $5.00. No abatement for less than $5.00 will be granted and no refund of less than $5.00 will be made.
Incomplete applications will be returned. When applying for an adjustment it is the applicant’s responsibility to contact us for a new amount. A new bill will not be issued.
New Legislation: Solar
SOLAR Laws have changed and will go into effect on June 24, 2021. Please read the following and refer to the laws noted:
New Solar Legislation* sets in place new criteria for a system to be considered tax-exempt:
Produces 125% or less of energy needed (includes contiguous or other property owned with that community), or is a 25kw or less system
If a system does not meet either of these criteria, the applicant can do a PILOT. An authority to connect notification certificate should be submitted as documentation to prove tax-exempt eligibility unless otherwise noted on the building permit documents.
If a system does not meet the exempt criteria or does not execute a PILOT, it would be taxable.
*Chapter 8 of the Acts of 2021 (sections 61, 62, 63, 97, 98) signed March 26, 2021 – goes into effect 90 Days from signing or June 24, 2021
Income & Expense Forms: Commercial Property Owners
Income & Expense forms for FY 2024 were mailed on 2/1/2023 to all Commercial & Industrial property owners. The forms were due by 4/5/2023. The form can be found above in the documents list. All commercial and industrial property owners are requested to fill out the information to help determine market values for the community. Those that do not complete the forms are subject to a fine. Even if the property is fully owner-occupied, the Board requests that the expenses section of the form is completed and "owner-occupied" clearly written on the form.
Tax Rate Information
The tax rate is the town’s budget divided by the total town’s taxable valuation. The town’s budget is a product of Town meeting appropriations required for services, capital expenditures, equipment, etc. These appropriations are adjusted by revenue received by the town and other expenditures. The Tax Rate for Fiscal Year 2023 is $15.43.
TAX RATE HISTORY
Responsibilities
The Board of Assessors is the local agency responsible for the assessment and administration of all local taxes provided for by the General Laws of the Commonwealth. The mission of the Board of Assessors is to ‘‘truly and impartially, according to its best skill and judgment, assess and apportion all such property taxes and neither overvalue nor undervalue any property subject to taxation’’ - Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 41, Section 29.
Supervision
The Board is supervised in its administration of local taxation by the Department of Revenue’s Division of Local Services, as provided by Chapter 58 of the General Laws. Among other duties, the Division of Local Services reviews the Board’s assessment procedures every five years in order to certify that the property is being assessed at its full cash value. Every five years the Department of Revenue audits the Board of Assessors’ records and procedures for certification. The Department of Revenue’s last certification of the Board of Assessors’ records and procedures was done for the Fiscal Year 2020.