Veterans Exemption 22
Learn more about personal tax exemption for veterans.
Those who qualify for a veteran exemption will receive $400 in tax relief in Fiscal Year 2024. The City may grant additional tax relief. The additional 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.
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Still have questions? Contact:
Assessing
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1 City Hall Square
Room 301Boston, MA 02201-2011
Program Requirements
You may be eligible for this exemption if you meet the following requirements:
- As of July 1 of the fiscal year, you must have a minimum ownership interest. Contact the Taxpayer Referral and Assistance Center (TRAC) for more information about the ownership requirement.
- As of July 1 of the fiscal year, you or — if deceased — your spouse or parent must occupy the property as a domicile. A veteran must have been a Massachusetts resident for at least six months before entering the service, or have lived in Massachusetts for at least one year after discharge before filing for this exemption.
If you are an elderly veteran and have a limited income, you may want to first consider an elderly exemption 41C. You could receive more tax relief.
Exemption Eligibility and Relief Amounts
The amount you receive for your veteran exemption depends on the nature of your disability:
| Amount | Who is eligible |
|---|---|
| $400 | A veteran needs to have a service-related disability of at least 10 percent as certified by the Veterans Administration. The spouses of veterans or the surviving spouses of veterans who remain unmarried also qualify. (Clause 22) |
| $400 | A veteran, or the surviving spouse of a veteran who remains unmarried, who was awarded a purple heart. (Clause 22) |
| $400 | You are the parent of a veteran who lost their life during wartime. (Clause 22) |
| $400 | You are the surviving spouse of a WWI veteran and you lived in Massachusetts for the past five years. Your whole estate, not including the property, can’t be more than $20,000. (Clause 22) |
| $750 to $1,500 |
A veteran who lost limbs or eyes, was awarded certain medals, has 100 percent disability with specially adaptive housing, or is unable to work. If the property is more than a single family house, the tax relief only applies to the part of the property where the veteran or surviving spouse lives. (Clause 22A-22C, 22E) |
| Full |
Surviving spouses of military members who died as a result of an injury during service or are missing in action and presumed dead. (Clause 22D) |
| Full |
A paraplegic or blind veteran, as certified by the Veterans Administration, and their surviving spouse. (Clause 22F) |
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:
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 3011 CITY HALL SQUARE
BOSTON, MA 02201
Exemption Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked QuestionsThrough 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 STREET2ND FLOOR, SUITE 200
BOSTON, MA 02114
The ATB can be reached by phone at 617-727-3100.
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Still have questions? Contact:
Assessing
-
1 City Hall Square
Room 301Boston, MA 02201-2011
