Town Principal Assessor Stephanie Schecter and the Assessor’s Office would like to remind seniors and all other eligible residents to apply for the Town of Dighton’s property tax exemption programs by April 1.
Dighton’s available property tax exemption programs include exemptions for surviving spouses, surviving spouses of first responders killed in the line of duty, surviving minor children of first responders killed in the line of duty, veterans or surviving spouses, the legally blind, those experiencing financial hardship and senior residents. To learn more about these programs, click here.
Residents can obtain property tax exemption forms from the Town Assessor’s Office, 979 Somerset Ave., via Dighton’s Town website or by emailing sschecter@dighton-ma.gov to request a form to be emailed or mailed to them.
How to Apply
When applying for a program, residents must also supply the following documents:
- A Birth Certificate (first-year applicants only).
- If your property is in a trust, a copy of your trust showing the property owners as trustees along with a schedule of beneficiaries.
- Social Security Form 1099, showing the amount you collected for the year 2021.
- Pension amount for the year 2021.
- Income tax papers for the year 2021. If you do not file (first-year applicants only) call the IRS and request a 1722 letter.
- Bank statement for all – checking accounts, saving accounts, and certificates of deposit or other investments showing the ending balances as of Dec. 31, 2021.
- Interest and Dividends for the year 2021.
- Value of stocks, bonds, or securities ext. as of Dec. 31, 2021.
- Copy of tax bill for any property you own besides your legal residence.
Applications and all supporting documents for property tax exemption programs must be submitted to the Assessor’s Office by Saturday, April 1. Once qualified, applications will be automatically mailed each year.
Senior Tax Exemption Program
At Dighton’s 2022 Annual Town Meeting, an increase for the town’s Senior Property Tax Exemption program was approved, bringing the exemption amount from $744 to $1,000 per year for qualifying Dighton seniors.
The goal of the tax exemption program is to help seniors continue to be able to afford to live in Dighton by alleviating the escalating tax burden that could force those on fixed incomes to sell their homes. The town increases the income limits based on the Cost-of-Living Adjustment each year.
To date, there have been 31 qualified seniors awarded the 41C Senior Property Tax Exemption this year.
Those wishing to apply for the tax exemption program must meet the following requirements:
- Age: Must be age 70 or older as of July 1.
- Residency: Must own and occupy the property for at least five years and be a Massachusetts resident for the preceding 10 years.
- Income:
- Single: $29,823.28
- Married: $41,370.17
- Assets Limit:
- Single: $30,000
- Married: $32,000
Anyone with questions or needing assistance is encouraged to contact Town Assessor Stephanie Schecter at sschecter@dighton-ma.gov.
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