Local Politics:Issues:Understanding Your Tax Bill

Lexington residents get real estate tax bills four times a year, and excise tax bills for other property (automobiles, trailers, boats, etc).

The Real Estate Tax Bill
Residential real estate tax bills are mailed quarterly. Residences are assessed at their fair marker value on Jan 1st, the fiscal year begins July 1st, and the tax rate is set by the Board of Selectmen in December of the same year.
 * The first two real estate tax bills mailed in July and Oct represent preliminary estimates (since the tax rate is not known until December).
 * The last two tax bills, mailed in Jan and April, are different in that they:
 * List the assessed value and the tax rate at the top left
 * Are computed so the total of the four tax bills equals the assessed value times the tax rate.

The tax bill includes a Community Preservation Act surcharge, which is up to 3%.

Federal Tax Treatment
Real estate taxes, including the CPA surcharge, are deductible on the federal income tax, provided deductions are itemized, but are not deductible from the AMT.

The Excise Tax Bill
Excise tax bills are mailed once a year, in Spring. You will receive separate tax stubs for each motor vehicle being taxed. Excise taxes are in lieu of local property tax, and the tax bill is mailed by the Lexington tax office. Payment is also made to the Town of Lexington, although the tax rates are set by the state.

The excise tax is deductible on the federal income tax, provided deductions are itemized.