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Veteran Property Tax Exemption — Massachusetts

Massachusetts local property-tax exemptions for veterans — how the Chapter 59 "clauses" work, what each tier is worth, and where to apply.

Who qualifies
Veterans with a service-connected disability of 10% or more (Clause 22, $400); loss of or loss of use of a limb/eye, POWs, or holders of top service medals (Clause 22A, $750); 100% service-connected (Clause 22E, $1,000); total line-of-duty disability with specially adapted housing (Clause 22C, $1,500); paraplegia or 100% service-connected blindness (Clause 22F, full exemption); surviving spouses and Gold Star parents per clause
Benefit
An annual dollar exemption off your local property-tax bill — or a full exemption in the most severe tiers
Local boost
Under the 2024 HERO Act, municipalities may double exemption amounts (Clause 22J) and tie them to inflation (Clause 22I) as local options — ask your assessors whether yours has adopted them
How to apply
File with your city or town board of assessors with VA certification of the service-connected disability plus proof of residency, domicile, and ownership
Deadline
All eligibility requirements must be met as of July 1 of the fiscal year; confirm the filing deadline with your assessors (property taxes are assessed and collected locally, not by the DOR)
Mind the proration
Clauses 22A, 22B, 22C, 22E, and 22F are prorated for a domicile that is not a single-family house — e.g., 50% of the tax for one unit of a two-family

How it works

Massachusetts does not run one statewide homestead exemption. Instead, Chapter 59, Section 5 creates a ladder of veteran "clauses" that your city or town administers — and your local board of assessors decides eligibility. You must meet residency, domicile, ownership, and disability tests as of July 1 of the tax year. | Item | Massachusetts |

Not yet rated? Start there

Every one of these programs hinges on a VA service-connected rating. If you have not filed a claim, that is the starting point — a free, VA-accredited VSO (DAV, American Legion, VFW) will file it for you at no cost. A higher rating unlocks not just property-tax relief but healthcare, income benefits, and — for business owners — SDVOSB contracting eligibility. - Mass.gov — Local Property Tax Exemptions for Veterans: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/local-property-tax-exemptions-for-veterans - Mass. DOR — Taxpayer's Guide to Real Estate Tax Exemptions for Qualifying Veterans (PDF): https://www.mass.gov/doc/guide-to-real-estate-tax-exemptions-for-qualifying-veterans-0/download

Official sources

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