Essex County Property Tax
Property taxes in Essex County, Massachusetts are some of the highest in the country, averaging at about 1% of a property’s assessed fair market value.
Written by Lindsey Hoover
Reviewed by Melanie Reiff
If you own property in Essex County, you can expect to pay an average of $3,719 a year in property taxes. This amounts to about 4.27% of your yearly income.
Buying a home can be a wonderful experience. It also comes with a lot of responsibility, and factors like cost of living and taxes often play a huge part in the decision-making process. Before purchasing your new home, it’s a good idea to be informed of the property tax rate of your prospective new county—doing so could save you money.
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Property tax 101
Not sure what property taxes are? Here’s a quick breakdown:
- Property taxes fund community services and are allocated by the county’s local government
- Property taxes most commonly apply to real property, such as land and homes
- A local tax assessor determines your tax rate by assessing your property’s market value and the local tax rate
- Market conditions and local budgets influence property tax rates
Essentially, charging residents taxes on property is how the local government funds community services and projects.
What is the property tax rate in Essex County?
In Essex County, the average tax rate is 1% of a property’s assessed fair market value. This means if you reside in Essex, you can expect to pay an average of $3,719 a year in property taxes, or about 4.27% of your yearly income.
Check out the
Essex County website
to learn more about the valuation process and property documents.How Essex County property taxes are determined
Property taxes in Essex County are assessed on a property-by-property basis by a local tax assessor.
The tax assessor of your municipality manages your property taxes and calculates the amount owed each year based on the property’s fair market value and
county tax rates
.If you own property in Essex County, you have the option to appeal an assessment made by the county’s tax assessor. If you believe you were unfairly over-assessed and would like to file an appeal, contact your town or city’s
Tax Assessor's Office
.As a resident of Essex County, you may also qualify for homestead exemption. Contact
Essex County’s Board of Assessors
to learn more about the program and other deductions you can make before filing taxes. Also, be sure to see if you qualify for a full or partial deduction for your county property taxes on your Massachusetts income tax return
. What do Essex County property taxes pay for?
Essex County funds the following community services and projects with property tax dollars:
- Public transportation
- Road maintenance
- Community education
- Public libraries
- School districts
- Building safety
- Health services
- Infrastructure
- Municipal government projects
Essex County property tax revenue is used for local services and is never allocated to the state or federal budgets.
How to pay property taxes in Essex County
Property tax bill due dates differs based on which
municipality
you live in. For example, the town of Essex issues its property tax bill four times per year. Quarterly tax payments are due on August 1st, November 1st, February 1st, and May 1st. If your bill is not paid in full by May 1st, you could face hefty fines
. When it comes to paying your property tax bill in Essex County, you will have to contact your local tax assessor's office to learn more about payment options. Below we use the town of Essex as an example so that you have an idea of what to expect.
If you live in the town of Essex, you have a few options to choose from. You can pay online, by mail, or in person. Details on how are below:
- By mail: You can pay by mail with personal checks, certified checks, and money orders. Mail your bill to the attention of the Tax Collector and send it to the following address: Essex Town Hall, 30 Martin Street, Room 202, Essex, MA 01929. Postmarks are not accepted
- In person: You can make a payment in person at the Assessors’ office on the second floor of Essex Town Hall. They accept checks, cash, cashier's checks, and money orders. Credit cards are not accepted in person. Visit theEssex County websitefor information on hours of operation.
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When are property taxes due in Essex County?
Property tax due dates differ based on which municipality you live in. For the town of Essex, property taxes are due four times each year: August 1st, November 1st, February 1st, and May 1st.
How do I get my Massachusetts property tax statement?
Tax statements are mailed each year by your local tax assessor. Please contact your municipalities' tax assessor immediately if you don’t receive your bill.
Are property taxes high in Essex County?
Property taxes in Essex County are some of the highest in the country, averaging homeowners about $3,719 a year in property taxes.
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