All tax payments are made payable to The Town of Dennis. Personal Property Tax - A Primer Everyone, except full-time residents, is assessed a personal property tax. This tax is payable for the entire year by the person who was the owner of record as of the previous January 1. For FY 2009 (July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009), the tax would be assessed to the person who owned the property as of January 1, 2008. However, a property owner who rents an unfurnished unit would not have to pay the assessment and should file for an abatement. Example: If the real estate were sold from one part-time resident to another part-time resident on February 1, 2008, the seller is still responsible for the entire year’s tax. The buyer would not pay the personal property tax until the following year when he would be the owner of record on January 1, 2009. (FY 2010) Ways in which to establish and prove full-time residency are: 1. Completing of the town census 2. Registering to vote 3. Paying a motor vehicle excise to Dennis 4. Showing a Dennis address on driver’s license 5. Showing that tax returns are filed from a Dennis address. When tax bills are sent out in the fall, any taxpayer who feels that their personal property is overvalued should contact the Assessors’ Office for an abatement. Abatements are due by the last day taxes are due in the fall. Abatements cannot be filed in the spring; however, the Assessors may review it for the following year. During a reevaluation year (FY 2008), which occurs every three years, a Form of List will be mailed out to assist the Assessors in the reevaluation process. For questions, please contact the Assessors’ Office or the Treasurer/Collector’s Office.
| Tax Information The Town of Dennis’s year runs on a fiscal year from July 1 to June 30 each year. When you pay your real estate and personal property taxes in the fall, you are paying for the first half of the year (July 1 to Dec 31) and when you pay your taxes in the spring you are paying for the second half of the year (Jan 1 to June 30). Below is a calendar of when taxes are issued and due and the penalties for paying late. | July 1 | | First and second quarter billing for Real Estate and Personal Property taxes issued. First quarter payment due by August 1, second quarter payment due by November 1 No bill will be mailed October 1 for November 1 payment since payment coupon will be included in the July 1 billing. Payment must be in the Collector’s office by 4:30 (or paid online) by the due date. 14% late charge from due date on all bills received after the deadline. Postmark does not verify payment. | January 1 | | Third and fourth quarter billing for Real Estate and Personal Property taxes issued. Third quarter payment due by February 1, second quarter payment due by May 1 No bill will be mailed April 1 for May 1 payment since payment coupon will be included in the January 1 billing. | August 1 | | First Quarter Real Estate and Personal Property Taxes Due | November 1 | | Second Quarter Real Estate and Personal Property Taxes Due | February 1 | | Third Quarter Real Estate and Personal Property Taxes Due | May 1 | | Fourth Quarter Real Estate and Personal Property Taxes Due | | | |
At various times Demands will be sent out for late taxes. This adds a $30.00 late fee in addition to any accumulated interest.
From the Deputy Commissioner Gerard D. Perry, Division of Local Services: Taxpayers should also note that failure to receive either a property tax bill or an excise bill do not affect the validity of the bill. A person who does not receive a bill is still liable for the tax or excise plus any interest charges and penalties accrued. Therefore, it is important to keep the assessors informed of current name and address so that excise and property tax bills can be delivered properly. Note: Address changes for motor vehicle excise taxes can only be made at the RMV. Failure to Receive Bill Ch. 60A Sec. 2 "....failure to receive notice (tax bill) shall not affect the validity of the tax or the proceedings for collection of this tax ..." It is the taxpayer's responsibility to seek the bill out by inquiring at the Treasurer/Collector office.
If you are a new property owner, be sure to contact the assessor's office @ (508) 760-6139 to make sure the mailing address is correct. | 
