Personal Property Tax

Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 59, Section 18

M.G.L. c.59, §18

Personal Property Tax is assessed separately from real estate and applies to non-real estate, tangible assets such as goods and equipment. It is primarily levied on businesses and assessed by the town where the property is located on January 1st, the official assessment date for the given fiscal year.

Personal Property Bills

Personal Property is valued by replacement cost new, less depreciation, based on age and condition.

Each business must file a Form of List (State Tax Form 2) with the local Board of Assessors by March 1st (extensions up to 30 days may be granted upon written request).The Board of Assessors uses the Form of List to determine taxability and fair market value. The information is confidential and not subject to public records laws.

The same tax rate that applies to the real estate tax bills is applied to the personal property tax bills.  

Personal property bills are mailed and due on the same schedule as the real estate tax bills. Bills are mailed out twice a year, 2 quarterly bills at a time. The Fiscal Year 2026 will begin on July 1, 2025, and runs through June 30, 2026. Bills are due on a quarterly basis. The 1st quarter is due on August 4, 2025, the 2nd quarter is due on November 3, 2025.The 3rd quarter is due 2/2/2026 and 4th quarter is due 5/4/2026. 

Application for Abatement

If you disagree with the value on your actual tax bill, you may complete and submit the required application and supporting documents. Application for Abatement State Tax (PDF) to the Assessor’s Office within a specific time period. This form is also available in the Assessor’s Office. 

The Actual tax bills will be mailed on December 31, 2025, starting the period in which Abatement Applications for Fiscal Year 2026 can be accepted. Abatement applications must be received in the Assessor’s Office no later than the close of business day on February 2, 2026, or bear a U.S. postal mark of February 2, 2026 or prior. 

Late applications cannot be acted upon by the Board of Assessors. These deadlines cannot be extended or waived by the Assessors for any reason.

If Your Business Closed or Moved Out of Hingham

The assessment date for the Fiscal Year is the January 1st preceding the start of the Fiscal Year. Fiscal Year 2026's assessment date is January 1st, 2025. Each business is assessed based on its existence on that assessment date. Thus any business that existed on January 1st, 2025 would be billed for the entire Fiscal Year 2026. This applies to businesses that have closed or relocated during the year so that any business that closed or relocated after Jan 1st will still be billed for the entire Fiscal Year. It should be noted that the reverse of this situation is also true in that any business that opens after Jan 1st will not be billed for the Fiscal Year.

If your business has closed or moved out of Hingham please inform our office in writing or by email so that we can update our records accordingly.

For further information, please contact the Assessor's Office at (781) 741-1455 or email assessors@hingham-ma.gov