Marblehead is approaching the Feb. 1 deadline for filing property tax abatements, which coincides with the due date for third-quarter tax bills. The deadline comes one year after the town’s Assessor’s Office faced significant challenges with its property valuation process, leading to hundreds of erroneous assessments and a surge in resident complaints.
Abatement applications can be obtained from the Assessor’s Office at the Mary Alley Municipal Building or downloaded from the town’s website at marblehead.org/assessors-office.
In early 2024, many Marblehead homeowners were surprised to receive property tax bills that had increased dramatically due to substantial hikes in their property assessments. Some residents reported assessment increases of up to 40%, prompting a flood of abatement requests filed with the Assessor’s Office.
According to Jonathan Lederman, a member of the Board of Assessors, it’s still early to predict an exact total of abatement filings, but he said they anticipate significantly fewer filings compared to last year due to the substantial corrections made to the 2023 (fiscal year 2024) errors, as well as improved outreach and communication efforts. The publication of new valuations ahead of tax bill release also likely contributed to reducing the number and need for abatements.
Following the challenges of 2023, the town contracted Patriot Properties to conduct a mini-revaluation in preparation for the upcoming town-wide revaluation. This allowed the Assessor’s Office to address the overvaluations identified last year and preview tentative valuations before finalizing them. The tentative valuations were published online and made available in print at public locations, including the Abbot Library, Abbot Hall and the Assessors’ Office at Widger Road.
“While we did not inspect every property individually, we are confident that the vast majority of the gross 2023 overvaluation errors have been resolved,” Lederman said. “Our new assistant assessor and staff have been directed to assist taxpayers in understanding the updated valuations and, if necessary, filing abatements before the Feb. 1 deadline.”
Lederman noted that feedback from residents has been more constructive and less contentious compared to last year, with the proactive release of tentative valuations helping to minimize surprises and foster a more informed and cooperative response from taxpayers.
Lederman emphasized the importance of residents reviewing their property assessments carefully and filing for abatements if they believe their valuations are inaccurate.
“Homeowners who believe they are over-assessed should file an abatement application by Feb. 1,” he said. “Abatement forms are available at the assessors’ office, where staff members are available to assist taxpayers and guide them through the process.”
Residents seeking more information about the abatement process or needing assistance with their applications can contact the Assessor’s Office at 781-631-0236 or visit the town’s website at marbleheaad.org for guidance.
