Tax Assistance and Deferral Programs

The Board of Assessors administers tax assistance programs for various eligible taxpayers based on statutory requirements and locally adopted provisions. These programs are summarized below. Additional information can be obtained by contacting the Assessor's Office at 617-730-2060 or Assessors@brooklinema.gov.  Exemption applications for fiscal year 2019 will be available July 1, 2018 at the Assessor’s Office or downloaded below. Applications for exemptions must be filed each year and are due by April 1, 2019. Exemptions are granted on an annual basis. 



Tax Exemption 
For Older Citizens 
(Clause 41C):
Download Form

Download Brochure
 		To qualify, a taxpayer:
  1. must be over 65 years of age as of July 1, 2018 and
  2. must have primary residence in Massachusetts for ten years and owned property in the state for five years and must have occupied the property as of July 1, 2018 and
  3. must have a whole estate (the value of personal property excluding domicile) of less than $45,012 if single, $61,892 if married and
  4. must have an income less than $22,506 if single, $33,759 if married, after subtracting an allowable exclusion ($4,628 worker, $2,314 spouse).
Upon Approval, the exemption amount ranges from $500 to $1,000.

Tax Deferral 
For Older Citizens 
(Clause 41A):
Download Form

Download Brochure
 		 To qualify, a taxpayer:
  1. must be over 65 years of age as of July 1, 2018 and
  2. must have primary residence in Massachusetts for ten years and owned property in the state for five years and
  3. must have occupied the property as of July 1, 2018 and
  4. must have a total gross income of less than $57,000 per year.
Upon Approval, Taxpayer Is Entitled To Defer (Delay) Payment Of Any Portion Of The Property Tax Bill.
Surviving Spouse, Minor Child, Elderly
(Clause 17D):
Download Form
 		 To qualify, a taxpayer:
  1. must be a surviving spouse or surviving minor child or must be over 70 years of age as of July 1, 2018
  2. must have owned and occupied the property for five years and
  3. must have a whole estate (the value of personal property less domicile) of less than $58,311.
Upon Approval, Taxpayer is Entitled an Exemption from $175 to $350.
Disabled Veteran
(Clause 22):
Download Form
 		 To qualify, a taxpayer:
  1. must be a veteran or spouse of a veteran and
  2. must have a service-connected disability of 10% or more or
  3. have been awarded the Purple Heart or
  4. be a veteran of the Spanish, Philippine or Chinese Expedition or
  5. have been awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Air Force Cross or Navy Cross or
  6. Surviving parents of military personnel who died in military service (Gold Star Parents).
Exemption is $400 to full tax bill.
Blind Persons
(Clause 37A):
Download Form
 		 To qualify, a taxpayer:
  1. must be a legal resident of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,
  2. own and occupy the property as his/her domicile as of July 1,
  3. and file current proof of blindness each year with the application.
Upon Approval, Exemption amount ranges from $500 to $1,000.
Senior Work-off Tax Exemption:
Download Flyer
 		 To qualify, a taxpayer:
  1. must be sixty (60) years of age or older as of July 1, 2018 and
  2. must own and occupy, as principal place of residence to which the tax work-off credit will be applied as of July 1, 2018 and
  3. must have gross income less than $56,800 and
  4. must work as a volunteer for a designated Town Department for 125 hours within the tax year.
For more information contact Deidre Waxman, R.E.A.P Coordinator for the Brookline Senior Center at 617-730-2767.
Water/Sewer Exemption for Eligible Seniors:
Download Flyer
 		Eligible ratepayers must qualify under Clause 17D or 41C Property Tax Exemptions
and you must be the named payer on the Water & Sewer Bill for the unit.

17D Eligibility Requirements:
  1. must be a surviving spouse or surviving minor child or must be over 70 years of age as of July 1, 2018 and
  2. must have owned and occupied the property for five years and
  3. must have a whole estate (the value of personal property less domicile) of less than $58,311.
Surviving spouses and surviving minors are eligible and requires no annual income limitation.

41C Eligibility Requirements:
  1. must be over 65 years of age as of July 1, 2018 and
  2. must have primary residence in Massachusetts for ten years and owned property in the state for five years and must have occupied the property as of July 1, 2018 and
  3. must have a whole estate (the value of personal property excluding domicile) of less than $45,012 if single, $61,892 if married and
  4. must have an income less than $22,506 if single, $33,759 if married, after subtracting an allowable exclusion ($4,628 worker, $2,314 spouse).
Eligible ratepayers will receive a 20% reduction in their Water and Sewer bills.
Senior Circuit Breaker Credit:
Download Flyer

To qualify, a taxpayer:

  1. must be 65 or older before December 31, 2018 and
  2. must own or rent in Massachusetts as principal residence and
  3. must have gross income less than $57,000 if such person is single and not head of household, less than $72,000 if such person is head of household, or less than $86,000 if such person files a joint tax return with spouse and
  4. must not have an assessed real estate valuation exceeding $747,000.
Upon approval, taxpayer is entitled up to $1,080 of State Income Tax Credit (Not Property Taxes).

To fill out a general application download this form.