What do you need to do?
Property Tax
Appeal your assessment, check exemptions and due dates
Courts & Legal
Case lookup, filings, court records & more
Marriage & Vital Records
Marriage licenses, divorce records, birth & death certificates
Probate & Estate
Probate filings, estate administration & guardianship
Public Safety & Arrests
Arrest records, inmate search & law enforcement
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations & elections info
Suffolk County Offices & Services
Suffolk County's assessment ratio means effective tax rates are low — but incorrect appraisals still cost money. Ownwell manages the appeal with no upfront cost.
Popular How-To Guides for Suffolk County
Explore by Life Event
Start with a common life situation and we'll show you what to do.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I appeal my Boston property tax assessment?
File an **Application for Abatement** with the Boston Assessing Department by February 1 of the fiscal year you are appealing. Contact the Assessing Department at 617-635-3409 to request the form. If your application is denied or the Board fails to act within 3 months, you have 3 months from that date to file a petition with the Massachusetts Appellate Tax Board (617-727-3100) at 100 Cambridge Street, Suite 200, Boston. The ATB offers an Informal Procedure (faster, waives right of further appeal) and a Formal Procedure (appealable to the Appeals Court). Ownwell handles the process and only charges if you save.
What is the Boston Residential Exemption and do I qualify?
The Boston Residential Exemption reduces the assessed value of owner-occupied primary residences by a flat dollar amount set annually. For FY2026, the exemption is approximately $4,167 per qualifying property. To qualify, you must own and occupy the property as your principal residence as of January 1. Check your tax bill — if you own and occupy your Boston home and the exemption is not shown, contact the Assessing Department at 617-635-4287. This exemption is separate from personal exemptions available to seniors, veterans, and disabled persons.
Why does Suffolk County have no county government?
Massachusetts formally abolished most county government functions decades ago, and Suffolk County — along with Nantucket, Dukes (Martha's Vineyard), and several others — retained only administrative shell functions. There is no County Executive, no County Commission, and no county-funded services in Suffolk County. For Boston residents, city government provides all local services. Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop each operate their own independent city or town governments.
How does Massachusetts's estate tax affect Boston homeowners?
Massachusetts imposes an estate tax with a $2 million threshold — raised from $1 million in 2023. Rates range from 0.8 to 16 percent on the amount above $2 million. There is no portability between spouses: each person's $2 million exemption is separate. In Boston, where real estate values have appreciated dramatically, many homeowners are closer to the threshold than they realize. A condo or townhouse in Beacon Hill, Back Bay, or South End, combined with retirement accounts and financial assets, can push a household estate above $2 million without active planning. Massachusetts has no inheritance tax and no gift tax.
Search Suffolk County public records, including arrests, court filings, property history, and background information for Boston, Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop residents.
Search Suffolk County arrest and court records. TruthFinder aggregates publicly available arrest records, court filings, and background information for Boston and Suffolk County residents.Editorial independence: CountyOffices maintains strict editorial independence from our affiliate partners. Our content is researched from official government sources. Affiliate relationships do not influence our recommendations or the information we publish.
Ownwell
Property tax appeal service for Suffolk County. Contingency fee — no savings, no charge.
Learn more →Care Packages
Send care packages to inmates in Suffolk County facilities via Amazon.
Shop care packages →