Massachusetts property tax exemptions can lower your bill — there are breaks for owner-occupants, seniors, veterans, and homeowners with disabilities, and many people who qualify never claim them. That is money left on the table every year. Below are the Massachusetts property tax exemptions that exist, who qualifies, and how to apply. Amounts and income limits change over time and some are set locally, so treat each figure as a
starting point and confirm the current number with your local assessor.
Massachusetts Property Tax at a Glance
| Homestead & Primary-Residence Relief | Available — see below |
| Senior Relief (Age 65+) | Available — see below |
| Veteran & Disabled-Veteran Relief | Available — see below |
| Disability Relief | Available — see below |
Verified from official state and county sources.
In This Massachusetts Guide:
Massachusetts Property Tax Exemptions & Relief
An exemption lowers the value your tax is figured on (or, in some states, gives you a credit or caps how fast your value can rise) — so the same tax rate produces a smaller bill. Here is each of the Massachusetts property tax exemptions available to homeowners.
Relief does not look the same everywhere. Some states knock a flat dollar amount off your home’s value; others give a credit on the tax itself, cap how much your assessed value can rise each year, or freeze the bill for qualifying seniors. A few offer an income-based rebate instead of a value exemption. The point is the same — a lower bill for people who qualify — but the
form differs, so read each program below for how it actually works rather than assuming it is a simple dollar discount.
Homestead & Primary-Residence Relief
Massachusetts has no statewide homestead exemption, but many cities (Boston, Cambridge, Somerville, Worcester, and others) adopt a local-option Residential Exemption that cuts the taxable value of owner-occupied homes by up to 35% of the average residential value – a very large benefit where offered (Boston removes roughly $350,000 of value). File annually with your local assessor (Boston uses Form RES) by about April 1.
How much / how it works: Where adopted, up to 35% of average residential value (Boston ~$350,000 off; ~$3,600 savings). Confirm with your city/town assessor.
Senior Relief (Age 65+)
Seniors have several ‘clause’ options: Clause 41C/41C½ knocks $1,000+ off the tax for owners 65+/70+ with income and asset limits (towns can enhance it); Clause 41A lets 65+ owners DEFER taxes (lien, ~6-8% interest). Separately, the state Senior Circuit Breaker (an income-tax credit, Schedule CB) refunds property tax above 10% of income – up to about $2,730 – for owners 65+ under the income limit.
How much / how it works: Clause 41C ~$1,000+ off tax (local); state circuit-breaker credit up to ~$2,730 (income limit about $64,000 single). Confirm with your assessor / MA DOR.
Veteran & Disabled-Veteran Relief
Veterans exemptions (MGL c. 59 sec. 5, Clause 22 series): reduce the tax by $400 up to $1,500+ based on VA disability rating; a veteran who is 100% disabled (or certain paraplegic/specially-adapted-housing cases) can be fully exempt. Surviving spouses and Gold Star families qualify. Apply with your local assessor.
How much / how it works: $400-$1,500+ by rating, up to a full exemption at 100%. Confirm with your city/town assessor.
Disability Relief
Blind residents get a Clause 37A exemption ($500+ off the tax, with annual certification), and a Clause 18 hardship exemption is available at the assessors’ discretion. Disabled seniors can also use the state Senior Circuit Breaker credit. Apply with your local assessor.
How much / how it works: Blind (Clause 37A) $500+ off tax; hardship varies. Confirm with your city/town assessor.
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Not sure which Massachusetts breaks you qualify for?
How to Apply for Massachusetts Property Tax Exemptions
Massachusetts property tax exemptions are almost never automatic — you have to file for them, usually with your local assessor, and usually by a set date each year. Apply once for most breaks and they carry forward, but a few (like some senior or income-based programs) must be renewed. If you just bought your home, or just turned 65, or your disability or veteran status changed, that is the moment
to file.
Even one missed exemption can cost hundreds of dollars a year, so it is worth ten minutes to check.
Don’t want to appeal your Massachusetts taxes yourself? A property tax appeal service can file everything for you and usually only charges if it wins — typically a share of what it saves you. It is one option; you can also appeal on your own for free.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Massachusetts property tax exemptions are available?
Massachusetts has relief for owner-occupants (homestead), seniors 65+, veterans and disabled veterans, and homeowners with disabilities. The details, amounts, and income limits are covered above — and each is worth checking, because they can stack.
Who qualifies for a homestead exemption in Massachusetts?
Generally an owner who lives in the home as their primary residence. Exact rules — and whether the state uses a dollar exemption, a credit, or an assessment cap — are described in the homestead section above.
How do I apply for Massachusetts property tax exemptions?
File the application with your local assessor, usually by a set date each year. Most exemptions carry forward once approved; some must be renewed. Confirm the current form and deadline with your assessor.
Can I claim more than one of the Massachusetts property tax exemptions?
Often yes — for example a homestead break plus a senior or veteran break — though some programs interact. The sections above note where that applies; your assessor can confirm what stacks.
Massachusetts Property Tax Sources & Data
- Tax Foundation — Property Taxes by State & County: taxfoundation.org
- U.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey): census.gov/acs
- Lincoln Institute of Land Policy (property tax data): lincolninst.edu
Exemption details for Massachusetts on this page were verified from official Massachusetts state and county sources and last
checked in July 2026. Amounts, income limits, and deadlines change and many are set locally — confirm the current
figures and forms with your local assessor before you rely on them.
More Property Tax Guides
- Property Tax Rates by State
- Property Tax by County
- Are You Overpaying? Over-Assessment Checker
- Property Tax Exemption Finder
Disclaimer: This guide is informational only and is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Know Property Tax is an independent educational resource. It is not a government agency, not a county assessor, and not a tax-appeal service. Property tax rates, bills, exemptions, and deadlines change over time and vary by county and property. Confirm anything that affects your taxes with your county assessor or a licensed professional before you act.