Real Estate Taxes

About Your Property Tax Bill

Massachusetts general law requires that we send the property tax bill to the owner of record as of the January 1 date immediately preceding the start of the fiscal year. This means that if you purchased property in South Hadley after January 1 the tax bills for July 1 to June 30 will be in the name of the previous owner.

In an attempt to insure that the new property owner receives their bill the Assessor's Office puts a c/o "in care of" in the new owners name in the mailing address so that the post office will deliver it. If you are a new property owner be sure to contact the Collector's Office if you do not receive your quarterly tax bill. Please see the calendar which provides issuance dates and due dates that is available on this site.

Billing Cycle

Real estate bills are issued quarterly and are due as follows:

• August 1
• November 1
• February 1
• May 1

Late Payments

Tax payments must be received on or before the due date to avoid interest charges. Postmarks are not accepted and do not verify timely payment. If payment is not made within 30 days of the original date of mailing the account will begin to accrue interest at the rate of 14% per annum, computed from the date the bill was due. A demand notice will be sent and a demand fee of $30 is charged against the account. If the account remains outstanding 14 days after the issuance of the demand notice tax title procedures are started.

Demand notices are sent only after the 4th quarter bill cycle closes. If the account remains delinquent after June 30 of the fiscal year, a tax lien (a legal claim placed on property for debt) is placed on the property and is recorded with the Hampshire County Registry of Deeds. In addition, the property is placed in the tax title system and turned over to the Town Treasurer with additional fees and costs associated. A taking into tax title is the first step in the foreclosure process.

Failure to Receive a Bill

If you do not receive your quarterly tax bill contact the Collector' Office at 413-538-5020 to obtain your bill information. Under state law failure to receive a tax bill does not affect the validity of the tax or any interest or fines incurred due to late payment or of the proceedings for its collection. It is the responsibility of the taxpayer to secure his/her tax bill when 1 is not received.

Change of Mailing Address

If you wish to change the mailing address on your real estate or personal property bill you must contact the Assessor's Office.

Escrow Payments

If a bank or mortgage company escrows your taxes, it is your responsibility to make sure that they make timely payments. By law, tax bills are mailed to the property owner. We do not mail tax bills to banks or mortgage companies. Check with your bank or mortgage company to find out how they obtain your tax information. Some companies require the homeowner to mail in a copy of their bill while others obtain the information directly from the Collector's Office.

Payment Methods

In addition of the conventional payment methods of mail, or coming into the Collector's Office we now offer a direct debit program and online payments. View information on the various Payment Methods available. Visit the Assessor's Office for information on how taxes are calculated and your value determined.