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Blind Exemption 37A

Learn more about 37A personal exemption for blindness.

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Those who qualify for a 37A exemption will receive $500 in tax relief in Fiscal Year 2024. The City may grant up to an additional $500 in tax relief. The additional tax relief will NOT be granted if it will:

  • make your final 2024 tax bill lower than your final 2023 tax bill, or
  • reduce the taxable value of your property below 10 percent of the assessed value.

Eligibility

You may be eligible for this exemption if you meet the following requirements:

  • You have been declared legally blind. You must be registered with the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind and receive a Massachusetts Commission for the Blind certificate that says you are legally blind as of July 1 of the fiscal year, or provide a letter from a physician saying you were legally blind as of July 1 of the fiscal year.
  • As of July 1 of the fiscal year, you owned and occupied the property as your domicile. Your ownership interest in the property must be worth at least $5,000. Contact the Taxpayer Referral and Assistance Center (TRAC) for more information on the ownership requirement.

Apply for a Personal Exemption

Applications must be filed by April 1 of the current fiscal year.

If you have questions about the requirements for applying for an exemption, or want to know the status of your application, you can call the Taxpayer Referral and Assistance Center at 617-635-4287.

Please note: A Fiscal Year takes place from July 1 through June 30 of the following year. For example, Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) would be July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024.

Complete your application

Applications can be downloaded after we issue third-quarter tax bills in December. To download an application, search for and find your property using the Assessing Online tool, then click the "Details" link:

Assessing Online screenshot with the "details" link

The link to the application will be under the "Abatements/Exemptions" section. For more information on what's possible with Assessing Online, visit our explainer page.

You can also get an application by calling the Taxpayer Referral and Assistance Center at 617-635-4287. Applications can also be completed at City Hall. Remember to bring any additional documents you need for your exemption application.

Submit your application

Bring or mail your completed application and supporting documents to the Assessing Department at City Hall:

ASSESSING DEPARTMENT, ROOM 301

1 CITY HALL SQUARE

BOSTON, MA 02201

Exemption Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Through an exemption, the City releases you from paying part or all of your property taxes.

We will send you a renewal application, but it's still your responsibility to make sure that you file a renewal each year.

The Taxpayer Referral and Assistance Center (TRAC) has three months from the date on which the application was filed to determine the merits of the application.

Approved exemption applicants can expect to see the personal exemption applied to their third-quarter tax bill that will be issued in late December.

If an exemption is denied you will receive a notice of denial in the mail.

If the application is denied, you may file an appeal with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Appellate Tax Board (ATB) within three months of the date that the denial decision is made. The ATB is located at:

100 CAMBRIDGE STREET

2ND FLOOR, SUITE 200

BOSTON, MA 02114

The ATB can be reached by phone at 617-727-3100.

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