The voters in Dalton chose to adopt the quarterly tax payment system beginning in Fiscal Year 2011.  The following explains how this system works:

You will be sent a preliminary tax bill each year by July 1.  Your preliminary tax will be based on the adjusted net tax owed on your property for the prior fiscal year, and as a general rule will be no more than half of that amount.  Adjustments are made for any abatements or exemptions granted in the prior year, and any tax increases allowed under Proposition 2 1/2 for the current fiscal year.  Your preliminary tax will be payable in two equal installments.  Your first payment will be due on August 1, and your second payment will be due on November 1.

You will receive one bill with two vouchers.  Send the top voucher with the first payment (by August 1.), and the bottom voucher with the second payment (by November 1st.)  You will NOT receive another bill for the second quarter; you will need to save the second quarter voucher to send in with your November 1 payment.  Or you may pay both vouchers by the first due date of August 1.

Your Actual tax bill will then be sent to you by December 31.  This bill will show the assessed valuation of your property, the tax rate and the amount of property taxes you owe for the fiscal year, including any betterments, special assessments or other liens or charges that are added to the tax.  The tax bill will also show the amount of the preliminary tax paid earlier as a credit.

Again, you will receive one bill with two vouchers.  Send the top voucher with the third quarter payment (by February 1), and the bottom voucher with the fourth quarter payment (by May 1).  You will NOT receive another bill for the fourth quarter; you will need to save the fourth quarter voucher to pay by May 1.  Or you may pay both vouchers by the first due date of February 1.

The bottom piece of the bill is to be used as your receipt; you will need to bring it with you to be stamped if you pay in person.

As stated in M.G.L. Ch.60, Sec.3, cities and towns must send a bill to the owner of record as of January 1st of the year in which the tax is assessed.  As a result, a new homeowner may not receive a bill in their name for up to a year and a half from the purchase date.  New homeowners are encouraged to notify the Board of Assessors of proper names and addresses.

Failure to receive a bill does not stay the collection of a tax.  (M.G.L.Ch.60, Sec.3 & 16).  Tax bills can be viewed and printed from https://www.mytaxbill.org/inet/bill/home.do?town=daltonma.

Interest accrues at 14% per annum from the due date.  After the May 1st due date, a demand bill is issued, with interest and the $10.00 demand fee.  The demand is due in 14 days.  If the bill remains unpaid, the Collector will begin Tax Taking procedures.

Excise taxes are issued throughout the year, when commitments are received from the Registry of Motor Vehicles.  The bills are based on information you provide when you register your vehicle.  It is very important to keep your information with the Registry current.  The procedure to follow should you sell, trade, or junk a vehicle is printed on the back of each bill, or call the Assessor’s Office for instruction.  Excise taxes are due 30 days from the date of issue.  Interest accrues at 12% per annum.  After 30 days, a demand bill is issued, with interest and the $10.00 demand fee.  Should the demand bill remain unpaid after 14 days, the account will be turned over to the Deputy Collector.  After notification from the deputy Collector, you will be marked at the Registry of Motor Vehicles, and will be unable to renew your license or registration until the delinquent bill is paid.

The Deputy Collector’s office phone number is 413-526-9737.  The address is Point Software, Inc.  200 Main St., Suite 1103 West, East Longmeadow, MA 01028.

Sewer bills are issued semi-annually; September 1 and March 1 and are due October 1 and April 1.  Interest accrues at 14% and there is a $10.00 late fee.  Unpaid bills are added as a lien to the next year’s Real Estate Tax bill, with interest and late fee added.

This office bills and collects for various other departments, such as Police, Select Board and Highway.

Payments for Real Estate tax, Fire District tax, Motor Vehicle taxes, and Sewer bill may be made at the office, or left after hours in the Lock Box at the entrance of the building (no cash, please).  Water bills should be paid at the Water Department Office in the Fire House at 20 Flansburg Avenue.

Please click link below for the Town’s online payment center to pay Real Estate, Fire District, Personal Property, Personal Property Fire, Excise Taxes and Sewer Bills.  Water bills CANNOT be paid through this link.

https://www.mytaxbill.org/inet/bill/home.do?town=daltonma