Important Tax Information

Real estate and personal property tax bills:

  • Scituate operates using a fiscal year of July 1 through June 30.
  • Real estate tax bill payments are due annually on a quarterly basis:  August 1, November 1, February 1, and May 1.  Due dates falling on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday will be due the following business day.
  • Quarterly billings are mailed twice per year:  preliminary (estimated) bills at the end of June, and actual bills at the end of December, both with two remit slips.
  • Interest and penalties are charged for late payments; delinquent accounts are assigned to the Deputy Collector after the demand period, and prior to a tax taking.
  • Partial payments are accepted on real estate, but interest will be charged on any outstanding balance.
  • New/subsequent owners are responsible for seeking out a tax bill if one is not received.  The law requires that tax bills be mailed to the owners of record as of January 1st for the fiscal year starting that July 1st.  Assessors enter deed details.

The Town’s Lockbox processing center cannot post bills paid through a personal online banking service because a remit slip is not included with the check. If you prefer to use your own bank’s payment service, please mail payments to: Treasurer/Collector, 600 CJC Hwy, Scituate, MA 02066. Be sure to update to current bill numbers (as bill numbers change each year), and the type of bill being paid (e.g. R #1234 - real estate, P #1234 - personal property, MV #1234 - motor vehicle excise, W #01234 - water). Another option is to use the map-block-and lot number found on your real estate tax bill and your service number for your water bill since these are permanent identifiers.  Be sure to allow sufficient mailing time since bills are considered paid when physically received in the T/C office; postmarks do not count.  Feel free to call the T/C office at 781-545-8718 with any payment questions.

Motor vehicle excise tax bills:

  • Motor vehicle tax bills are mailed throughout the year as commitment data is received from the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV).
  • The majority of vehicle excise bills are mailed in February on the Town’s 1st RMV commitment.
  • Interest and penalties are charged for late vehicle excise payments; partial payments are not accepted; accounts are assigned to the Deputy Collector after the demand period.
  • License/registration renewals may be withheld due to late vehicle excise payments.

Boat excise tax bills:

Bills are generally mailed in November (due in January, 60 days from issuance) for that year’s boating season. If your excise is not paid when due, you will be charged interest at the rate of 12% per annum and collection costs. You will also be charged a late penalty of $20.00, or 20% of the excise due, whichever is greater. Harbormaster requires the Assessor's boat excise form be filled out and returned to the Assessor's office each year.

Water/Sewer bills:

  • Bills are mailed four times per year. Payment is due within 30 days of issuance. Interest and penalties will be charged for late payments.
  • Unpaid water/sewer bills are liened onto 3rd quarter Real Estate bills in December.
  • Questions or disputes regarding billing amounts due must be directed to the Water Department promptly for resolution.