FAQs • Whitman, MA • CivicEngage

I received my real estate bill and the previous owner’s name still appears on the bill. When will the previous owner’s name be removed?: When a property is sold the Assessor’s Office receives information from the Registry of Deeds with the new owner’s information. The legal owner’s file is then updated by the Assessor’s Office and the previous owner’s name is removed. We usually see many of these changes with the first billing of a new fiscal year or when the Actual Real Estate Bills are issued January 1 each year. Please contact the Assessor’s Office at 781-618-9760 regarding any questions concerning the legal owners of a property.

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Collector / Treasurer

1. I received my motor vehicle excise bill, however I no longer have the vehicle. Do I have to pay the excise bill?: Yes, the excise bill is due and payable within 30 days from the date of issue. If you qualify for an abatement please contact the Assessor’s Office at 781- 618-9760 for the abatement application and guidelines concerning the abatement process.

2. I no longer own my own business, however I received a personal property bill. Am I responsible for paying this bill?: Personal Property bills are issued for a fiscal year to the owner of record as of January 1 of the previous year. A Discontinuance of Business Certificate should be filed with the Clerk’s Office whenever a business is closed or sold. Please contact the Assessor’s Office at 781-618-9760 if you have any questions concerning a personal property bill for a business which has been closed or sold.

3. I received my real estate bill and the previous owner’s name still appears on the bill. When will the previous owner’s name be removed?: When a property is sold the Assessor’s Office receives information from the Registry of Deeds with the new owner’s information. The legal owner’s file is then updated by the Assessor’s Office and the previous owner’s name is removed. We usually see many of these changes with the first billing of a new fiscal year or when the Actual Real Estate Bills are issued January 1 each year. Please contact the Assessor’s Office at 781-618-9760 regarding any questions concerning the legal owners of a property.

4. When a property is sold the Assessor’s Office receives information from the Registry of Deeds with the new owner’s information. The legal owner’s file is then updated by the Assessor’s Office and the: If you received a letter from the Registry of Motor Vehicles concerning outstanding excise bills you will need to contact John Y. Brady, Deputy Collector, Inc. at 781-545-5125 to obtain the current amount due.

5. I received my Actual Real Estate Bill and the assessed value of my property seems to be much higher than it is worth in the current market. How do I dispute the assessment?: The assessed value listed on your Actual Real Estate Bill each year is calculated as of January 1 of the previous year. Please contact the Assessor’s Office regarding any questions concerning the value of your property at 781-618-9760.

6. I have private trash collection, how do I file for an abatement?: Trash abatements are processed by the Department of Public Works. Please contact the Department of Public Works at 781-447-7630 regarding the trash abatement process.

7. Do you accept credit card payments in the Collector’s Office?: The only credit card accepted in the Collector’s Office is Discover. However, if you are making a payment on or before the due date for a current bill online the UniBank website accepts Mastercard or Discover. The credit card processor does charge a fee for credit card payments. Please contact the Collector’s Office for the Discover Card fees structure for payments made in the Collector’s Office. The UniBank website informs you of the online fee before your payment is finalized. The fees are based on the amount being charged. There are no fees for making a payment online from your checking account. To make a payment visit the Online Payments.

8. I tried to pay my bill online after the due date, however I was unable to do so, how do I pay online after the original due date?: Payments are only able to be paid online on or before the due date. The payment file is removed from the website the day after the due date. This is necessary because interest begins to accrue on a daily basis from the due date for all unpaid bills. Please contact the Collector’s Office at 781-618-9720 for a current amount due if making a payment after the due date.

John Y. Brady
Deputy Collector, Inc.

91 First Parish Road
Scituate, MA 02066

Hours
Monday - Friday
9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

94 Washington Street
Weymouth, MA 02188

Hours
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday
10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Ph: 781-545-5125

10. How much does Whitman charge for a Municipal Lien Certificate?: The fee for a Municipal Lien Certificate is $50. Please include the address of the property as well as the Map Block and Lot for the property. Please also include a prepaid stamped envelope with your request. Municipal Lien Certificates are processed within 10 days of receiving the request.