Problems with real estate tax bills

If you paid your tax bill but we still sent you a demand notice for tax not paid, or you paid too much in taxes, you need to provide proof of your payment. You also need to take these steps:

• You must make a written request to Collections about your dispute. You need to provide copies of the canceled check or checks — front and back — or copies of the original receipts for your payments.
• If your payments were for multiple properties, you need to list all the properties by ward and parcel number. If you made your payment by money order, you need to provide us a copy of your original money order — not the “non-negotiable consumer’s copy.”

If you don’t make your payment within 30 days of the date the City issued the tax, the Collector-Treasurer sends a demand notice. The demand charge is $5. We also add interest to your bill from the day after it was due until you pay it off, at an annual rate of 14 percent.

If you don’t answer the demand within 14 days, the Collector-Treasurer sends a warrant notice. We add an additional $12 in warrant charges. We only send demand and warrant notices on third- and fourth-quarter bills.

You can get another copy of your real estate tax bill by filling out the Assessing contact form, or calling the Taxpayer Referral and Assistance Center at 617-635-4287. Make sure you have your ward and parcel number. The center will either mail you the copy of your tax bill, or you can pick it up at their office:

Mezzanine Level, Room M-5
1 City Hall Square, Boston, MA 02201
Office hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.