FAQs • Agawam, MA • CivicEngage

I bought this house in January, why isn’t my name on the bill?: State law requires that bills be assessed to the owners of record on January 1st preceding the levy year. The Assessor’s office records all deed changes received from the Registry of Deeds through June 1st. Your name may not appear on the tax bill for up to one and one-half years after the closing, depending on the time of closing. For more information, please call 413-786-0400, ext. 8218.

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Collector's Office

1. When is the bill due?: The bill is due in quarterly installments on February 1, May 1, August 1 and November 1 each year. For more information, please call 413-786-0400, ext. 8218.

2. I bought this house in January, why isn’t my name on the bill?: State law requires that bills be assessed to the owners of record on January 1st preceding the levy year. The Assessor’s office records all deed changes received from the Registry of Deeds through June 1st. Your name may not appear on the tax bill for up to one and one-half years after the closing, depending on the time of closing. For more information, please call 413-786-0400, ext. 8218.

3. Why didn’t I receive my bill?: State law requires that bills be assessed to the owners of record on January 1st preceding the levy year. If you are a new owner, the name or address change may not have been received from the Registry of Deeds in time to be recorded. Contact the Collector’s office to find out amounts due. Remember the due dates are February 1, May 1, August 1 and November 1 each year. Bills are mailed 30 days prior to the due date. For more information, please call 413-786-0400, ext. 8218.

4. Why doesn’t my preliminary bill show my property value?: Preliminary bills are based upon last year’s taxes. Your fiscal year valuation will appear on your actual bill mailed at the end of December. For more information, please call 413-786-0400, ext. 8218.

5. Do I get my abatement or exemption?: Last year’s exemption has already been subtracted from the preliminary bill. The preliminary bill is one fourth of last year’s net tax. It is determined by taking the tax less any abatement or exemption and then dividing by four. For more information, please call 413-786-0400, ext. 8218.

6. There is a special assessment on my property for a sewer betterment. Is it on my preliminary bill?: No. The preliminary bill reflects only last year’s net tax. Special assessments and water and sewer liens will be on the actual bill. For more information, please call 413-786-0400, ext. 8218.

7. How much will my actual bill be?: The amount of the actual bill is not known until the valuations are certified and the tax rate is approved by the Massachusetts Department of Revenue. Your actual bill will be based upon the fiscal year valuation and tax rate. It will be calculated by taking the total tax plus any betterments or liens, less any abatements or exemptions, less the first two quarterly payments.For more information, please call 413-786-0400, ext. 8218.

8. When will I get my actual bill?: Actual bills will be mailed by December 31. They will be due on February 1, May 1, August 1 and November 1 each year. For more information, please call 413-786-0400, ext. 8218.

9. When will I get my exemption?: Exemption applications will be sent out prior to mailing the actual bill. If your exemption is granted before the actual bills are mailed, your exemption will be reflected in the actual bill. For more information, please call 413-786-0400, ext. 8218.

10. When are exemption applications due?: They must be filed within three months of the date the actual bill is mailed. For more information, please call 413-786-0400, ext. 8218.