Welcome to the Treasurer/Collector

The Treasurer/Collector is responsible for the billing, collecting and investing of all the Town funds including, real estate and personal property taxes, motor vehicle excises, water/sewer bills, trash fees and well as a myriad of miscellaneous departmental service charges, permits, licenses, fees and processing payroll..

The Treasurer/Collector administers and arranges for the timely disbursement of all payments to vendors, Town employees and retirees.

The Town of Nahant is excited to offer residents a new, secure and convenient method to pay your current Real Estate, Personal Property Taxes, Trash and Water/Sewer Fees online using the UniBank Online Payment System called UniPay.
Click here for UniPay Online Bill Payment.

Notice To Residents Concerning 2011 Tax Preparation

Anyone who wishes a copy of their 2011 bills for Real Estate, Water/Sewer/Trash, or Motor Vehicle must make the request in advance and pick up the copies at the Treasurer's office.

Verbal verification of amounts paid during the year will not be provided. Please plan ahead for your meetings with your tax preparer.

Call the Treasurer's office with any questions.
781-581-0018

Motor Vehicle Excise Tax

The motor vehicle excise tax is imposed on every motor vehicle and trailer registered in Massachusetts. The tax is imposed for the privilege of using the roadways and for registering a motor vehicle. The registration process of a motor vehicle automatically triggers the assessment of the excise.

The information on all excise tax bills comes directly and exclusively from the information your insurance company or agent supplies to the Registry of Motor Vehicles. The Town of Nahant receives the bills via a tape from the Registry and mails and collects the tax. We do not assess the tax or compile the information on your bills.

The motor vehicle excise tax is assessed at a rate of $25.00 per $1,000 value. The Registry of Motor Vehicles sets this value. The original (model year) value is based upon the manufacturer's list price according to the N.A.D.A Blue Book. This taxable value is adjusted each year in accordance with the following schedule:

Motor Vehicle Excise Tax bills are issued on a calendar-year basis. The bill is owed to the community where the vehicle or trailer was garaged as of January 1. The address of the registrant is based upon the registration address provided by the owner to the Registry of Motor Vehicles.

Vehicles registered for a portion of a calendar year are eligible for peroration based upon whole months. For new registrations, this occurs automatically. For cancelled or changed registrations, it is up to the owner to notify the Board of Assessors. Once issued, a bill cannot be abated below $5.00 unless the registration date as of January 1 was erroneous; e.g., wrong place of garaging or ownership, or plate error.

A plate return receipt or insurance termination notice is normally sufficient documentation for the Board of Assessors. When existing plates are transferred to a new vehicle, a copy of the new registration provides adequate evidence.

Owners of vehicles registered as of January 1 can expect to receive a bill by late February or early March. A new registration normally produces a bill 2 to 3 months afterwards.

The most common source of taxpayer confusion arises when a vehicle is registered late in the calendar year. This generates a tax bill early in the next calendar year, which may be followed soon thereafter by a full year bill for the new calendar year. Each bill identifies the year prominently. Taxpayers should make note of the year of the bill when paying an excise tax.

Common Problems:
The most common reason for a tax bill to be issued for a vehicle no longer on the road is the failure of the owner to return the plates to the Registry of Motor Vehicles as required. If a vehicle no longer on the road retains the plate registration, the bill may not be abated until it is sold or junked.

The most common reason for a tax bill to be issued to a former place of residence is the failure to notify the Registry of Motor Vehicles of the address change or the new place of garaging.

It is important to note that state law authorizes the Registrar of Motor Vehicles to suspend or revoke the license or registration of an operator or owner of a motor vehicle for failure to report within 30 days any change of name or address.

Questions concerning tax payments should be addressed to the Collector at (781) 581-0018.

Questions concerning tax errors, valuations, over-valuations or exemptions must be addressed to the Assessors Office at (781) 581-0212.

Property Tax Billing and Collection

Nahant real estate and personal property taxes are paid on a biannual basis. The fiscal year begins on July 1st and ends on June 30th of each year. The following table outlines the payment system:

Billing	Date Mailed	Due Date
1st. Billing	October 1st	November 1st
2nd Billing	April 1st	May 1st
*If the due date falls on a Sat., Sun. or legal holiday, taxes are due the first business day thereafter.

Payment Information:
The Nahant Town Hall is open from 8:00AM to 4:00PM on Monday, through Thursday; and 8:00AM. to 12:30PM on Friday and 4:00PM to 7:00PM on Thursdays. The Building is closed Saturday, Sunday and holidays.

Mailing Address for Governmental Offices:
Town of Nahant
Office of the Collector of Taxes
334 Nahant Road
Nahant, MA 01908

Penalty for Late Payment:
Interest at an annual rate of 14%, computed per day, is assessed on all payments received at the Collector's Office after the due dates outlined above. POSTMARKS DO NOT VERIFY TIMELY PAYMENT.

Important Tax Payment Tips:
If taxes are paid from a bank escrow account, send both copies of your bill to your bank when you receive them from Town Hall. The first tax bill is mailed around October 1st. The second tax bill is mailed around April 1st.

Do not enclose cash.

Sign and date your check. Unsigned checks will be returned. DO NOT DATE THE CHECK AHEAD. Checks will not be held by the Collector for later deposit. A post-dated check that is processed and not honored by the bank will result in penalties and fees and charges imposed by both the bank and the Town.

To request a receipt, you must include both copies of your bill and a stamped self-addressed envelope with your payment. If you are a new homeowner, please understand that Massachusetts's law requires that the tax bill be sent to the record owner as of the previous January 1st. You should retrieve a copy of your tax bill at Town Hall to avoid late payment penalties. Massachusetts's law states that your failure to receive a tax bill does not invalidate the tax or the proceedings for collection.

Questions concerning tax payments should be addressed to the Collector at (781) 581-0018.

Questions concerning valuations, over-valuations, abatements including the elderly, blind, veterans' or hardships, exemptions or deferrals must be addressed to the Assessors Office at (781) 581-0212. Visit the Assessors webpage for more information and online forms.

Trash Bill Collection

This page is being updated.

Water and Sewer bills are mailed (3) three times per year. The approximate mailing dates are outlined in this table:

Billing	Date Mailed	Due Date
1st. Billing	January 1st	February 1st
2nd Billing	May 1st	June 1st
3rd Billing	September 1st	October 1st
Please note if the due date falls on a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, taxes are due the first business day thereafter.

Billing Disputes
Disputes of water and sewer bills must be made in writing to the Town Administrator within 14 days of receipt of the bill.

Mailing Address for Governmental Offices:
Town of Nahant
Office of the Collector of Taxes
334 Nahant Road
Nahant, MA 01908

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