Boston Property Tax Quick Facts
- Location
- Boston, Massachusetts
- Suffolk County
- Assessed By
- Boston Assessing Department
- Abatement Deadline
- February 1
- County Tax Rate
- ~1.08%
- Shared with Boston
How to Abatement Property Taxes in Boston
Check your assessment
Enter your Boston address for a free 60-second check. We compare your assessed value against comparable sales and neighborhood data.
Get your evidence packet
If over-assessed, pay $45 for a complete abatement packet with comparable sales, equity analysis, and pre-filled forms for Suffolk County.
File your abatement
Submit your abatement to Boston Assessing Department before February 1. Our filing guide walks you through every step.
About the Boston Property Market
Boston is a city located in Suffolk County, Massachusetts. Every property inside the Boston city limits is assessed by Boston Assessing Department, which applies Massachusetts property tax rules uniformly across the county.
Because Boston property values are set at the county level, the $680,000 county median home value and 1.08% effective tax rate apply to homes throughout the city. Homeowners who believe their Boston home is over-assessed have the right to file a abatement directly with Boston Assessing Department before the February 1 deadline.
Under Massachusetts law, a abatement cannot increase your assessed value — it can only stay the same or go down. That makes a Boston abatement a low-risk way to push back against an over-assessment, especially for homeowners with strong comparable sales evidence.
Boston Property Market Context
Boston sits within Massachusetts's broader property tax landscape as a city, and local assessments reflect both state rules and county-level mass appraisal practices.
Massachusetts market character
Massachusetts assessed values are based on prior-year sales and must reflect full and fair cash value. Prop 2 1/2 caps aggregate tax-levy increases, but individual assessments still fluctuate annually and can be wildly out of line with market value.
How Massachusetts handles abatements
Massachusetts uses an "abatement" process rather than appeal. File with the local Board of Assessors, then appeal to the state Appellate Tax Board if denied. Filing carries no risk of increase.
When to file in Boston
Abatement applications are due by February 1 of each year (or the deadline printed on your tax bill). This is one of the earliest deadlines in the country.
Common Boston Property Types
Boston homeowners typically file protests across these property categories:
Single-family homes
The most common residential type and the dominant protest category.
Condominiums
Common in denser parts of the city and near employment centers.
Townhouses
Attached-home neighborhoods in newer subdivisions.
Small multi-family
Duplexes and 2-4 unit buildings assessed as income property.
Commercial
Retail, office, and small commercial along major corridors.
ProtestMax supports all of the above property types in Boston. Each abatementpacket is tailored to the property's classification and uses comparable sales from Boston and surrounding Suffolk County neighborhoods.
Boston Property Tax Abatement Questions
How do I abatement my property tax in Boston, Massachusetts?
What is the property tax rate in Boston?
When is the abatement deadline for Boston property taxes?
How much can I save on property taxes in Boston?
Can my Boston property tax increase from filing a abatement?
Nearby Cities in Suffolk County
These Massachusetts cities share the same abatement deadline (February 1) and are assessed by Boston Assessing Department.