Welcome to the Collector of Taxes Department

The City Collector of Taxes is responsible for sending and collecting payment of current excise tax, real estate tax, and personal property tax bills.

The office also is charged with collecting the solid waste collection bills in the City of Lynn. For more information on these bills or abatements please view the DPW website page or contact the Department of Public Works at (781) 268-8000.

Attorney Offices, Banks, Title Companies, CoreLogic, Wells Fargo, Lereta, and All other Mortgage/Loan Servicing Agents (We do not give verbal tax information)
You MUST send an email to Elyse Fannon Or fax request to: 781-477-0953

	City Treasurer/Collector
	Contact Phone Office Fax Email	Elyse Fannon (781) 586-6908 (781) 477-0953 efannon@lynnma.gov
	Assistant Collector
	Contact Phone Email	Christina Paradise (781) 598-4000 x 6749 cparadise@lynnma.gov
	Head Clerk
	Contact Phone Email	Maria Ryan (781) 598-4000 x 6746 mryan@lynnma.gov
	Spanish Speaking Clerk
	Contact Phone Email	Cindy Feliz-Gonzalez (781) 598-4000 x 6743 cfeliz@lynnma.gov
	Portuguese Speaking Clerk
	Contact Phone Email	Simone Mederiros (781) 598-4000 x 6747 smedeiros@lynnma.gov

If you have a delinquent Excise Tax Bill to please see the Excise Tax FAQ tab on the left for updated instructions on how to make a payment.

Online Bill Payment Options

City of Lynn Announcing New, Enhanced Online Bill Pay Services

The City of Lynn’s Online Bill Pay Services will look a little different the next time you go to pay online. The new system offers added enhancements and new features that will make paying and viewing your tax and utility bills online with City of Lynn more convenient and helpful. 

Online features include: e-billing, single shopping cart for multiple bill types, as well as giving our customers the ability to view and print original bill copies for this current or past fiscal year. Customers may register to receive an email notification of their bill, and it would take effect with their next billing cycle.

This initiative is part of City of Lynn’s efforts to move the city forward by utilizing state-of-the-art software solutions that are secure, efficient, cost-effective and easy to use for our residents. The new vendor is City Hall Systems, and taxpayers will have access to their customer service team should they have any online payment questions or wish to make a payment by phone. City Hall Systems customer service can be reach by phone at (508) 381-5455, by email at epay@cityhallsystems.com or by multilingual online chat.

The City of Lynn is happy to offer residents an easy and secure service to view, print and pay your bills.

Real Estate, Personal Property and Current Excise Tax Bills Only
For Real Estate, Personal Property and Current Excise Tax bills please proceed to City Hall Systems using the link below.

PROCEED TO SECURE ONLINE BILL PAYMENT

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Service Fees
Online and Electronic Check Options
Online payments will incur a service fee. The City of Lynn receives only your payment amount. Service fees cover various administrative costs associated with accepting payments and are non-refundable.

- A fee of 2.95% (minimum of $1.00) will be applied to all credit card transactions
- A fee of $0.50 will be charged for payments made via electronic check (ACH/EFT)

The service fee amount is automatically calculated and is shown on the payment page before you submit your payment for processing. Service fees will appear as a separate charge from the bill amount on your credit card or bank statement.

Pay-By-Phone Option
The service fees for pay-by phone are the same as indicated above for paying online.

If you wish to use the pay-by-phone service, please call toll-free: (508) 381-5455
Live Operators will be available to take payments by phone from 8:30 AM until 5 PM, Monday through Friday.

Assistance or Questions
If you need help using online bill pay or you have a question about your account,please call City Hall Systems at (508) 381-5455.

If there is an error in the Credit Card charge, please contact City Hall Systems at (508) 381-5455.

Municipal Lien FAQ's

If you wish to obtain a Municipal Lien Certificate (MLC), Please Click Here.

Cost and Processing Time
Residential Homes and Condominiums will be charged	$75 per parcel
Industrial and Commercial Properties will be charged	$125 per parcel
Allow ten (10) business days for processing

Municipal lien certificates reflect the total balance; for a breakdown please proceed to our online billing section to view the tax bills, fax a breakdown request to (781) 477-0953, or email a breakdown request to the following people:

	For More Information Please Contact
	Contact Email	Maria Ryan mryan@lynnma.gov
	Contact Email	Cindy Feliz-Gonzalez cfeliz@lynnma.gov
	Contact Email	Christina Paradise cparadise@lynnma.gov

Frequently Asked Questions: Real Estate

When are real estate tax bills mailed and payments due?
Tax bills are mailed four times a year and due on:
August 1st, November 1st, February 1st, and May 1st
*The bills are sent thirty (30) days prior to these due dates.

Where should I mail my real estate tax payment?

Lynn City Hall Collector of Taxes Room 204 3 City Hall Square Lynn, MA 01901

Please make checks payable to: City of Lynn. For proper crediting, write the parcel number on the check and enclose the top portion of your tax bill. To obtain a receipt, enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope and both portions of the bill with the payment.

Online payments are now available through the City of Lynn’s website as well as over the phone. (To get more information on doing so please see the payment tab on the top left.)

What is a fiscal year?
The fiscal year runs from July 1st to June 30th.

What are the fiscal year tax rates? 

YEAR	RESIDENTIAL	COMMERCIAL/INDUSTRIAL
2018	15.15	29.45
2017	15.60	30.67
2016	16.18	32.06
2015	16.75	33.58
2014	17.13	34.81
2013	16.93	34.55
2012	16.28	32.82
2011	16.22	32.41
2010	15.53	31.05

These rates are set in December for each year.

What happens if I do not pay my tax bill?
Tax payments must be received on or before the due date to avoid interest charges. If payment is not made within 30 days of the original date of mailing, the account will begin to accrue interest at the rate of 14% computed from the date the bill was due. A demand fee will be added at the end of the fiscal year for $30.
*Please note that the demand notices are only sent after the 4th quarter bills were due.

If the account remains delinquent after June 30th of the fiscal year, a tax lien (a legal claim placed on property for debt) is placed on the property and is recorded with the Essex County Registry of Deeds In addition, the property is placed in the tax title system. A tax lien is the first step in the foreclosure process. All taxes, costs and interest must be paid to prevent foreclosure (see Treasurer’s Office page for more information).

Why should I pay interest on a late payment when I never received my tax bill?
Under state law, failure to receive a bill does not affect the validity of the tax or any interest or fines incurred due to late payment(s). It is the responsibility of the taxpayer to secure his/her tax bill when one is not received.

Who is responsible for the taxes if a property is sold after January 1st?
Although the tax bill will bear the name of the assessed owner as of January 1st, the new owner is responsible for all taxes once the sale of the property is finalized. The amount of tax owed by the old owner is determined at the time of closing and is typically deducted from the selling price. Once this deduction is made, the new owner must pay all bills, as they become due in order to avoid interest, demand fees or foreclosure. The lawyers assisting each party should already have investigated any outstanding taxes and obtained a Municipal Lien Certificate. Once the agreement is made, the new owner is obligated to pay any outstanding taxes due on the property.

What should I do if I recently sold my property, but I am still receiving a tax bill?
If you receive a bill, please forward it to the new owner immediately as it is his/her responsibility to make payment.

What is a parcel number?
The parcel number is the identifying number of each individual property.
For example 001-001-001 would be a parcel number.

What happens if the check I mailed "bounces"?
If your check is returned due to insufficient funds, absence of signature, or technical error, we will send you a notice giving him/her four (4) days to come in with cash or a money order. If the bill is not taken care of within the four (4) days the payment will be withdrawn from your account and it will have the same status as an ‘unpaid’ account. At this time a $25 bad check fee will be added to your account.

What happens when you find out that you overpaid?
If you or your mortgage company have paid the bill and for some reason the bill is overpaid and you would like to request a refund please submit proof of payment to our office.

Proof of Payment Requirements:
Any request for an adjustment in payment, such as a transfer of funds or a refund, must meet the following requirements:

1. Request must be in writing
2. Photocopies of the front and back of the cancelled check(s) applied to the account or original receipts of all payments applied to the account (or any combination of the two) must be submitted
   
3. For payments made by money order, a photocopy of the original money order, not the “non-negotiable consumer’s copy:’ are required

On receipt of the written request and submission of complete documentation, our staff examines the information verifying such with our records and we will notify the taxpayer of our findings; refunds are mailed at the beginning of the next month.

Frequently Asked Questions: Excise Tax

What is motor vehicle excise?
Chapter 60A of Mass. General Laws imposes an excise on the privilege of registering a motor vehicle or a trailer in the commonwealth of Massachusetts. The excise is levied annually on lieu of a tangible personal property tax. Non-registered vehicles, however, remain subject to the taxation as personal property. The excise is levied by the city or town where the vehicle is principally garaged and the revenues become part of the local community treasury.

The Registry of Motor Vehicles prepares the data for excise bills according to the information on the motor vehicle registration and sends it to the city or town assessors. Cities and towns then prepare bills based on excise date sent by the Registry in conformity with Registry requirements.

Who collects the motor vehicle excise?
The City of Lynn’s tax collectors are responsible for collecting the original motor vehicle and trailer excise as well as the demand notice. All bills issued after the demand are collected by the deputy collectors office. There are no special considerations for financial hardship.

When is motor vehicle excise payment due?
Payment of motor vehicle excise is due within 30 days from the date the excise bill is issued.

NOTE: A person who does not receive a bill is still liable for the excise plus any interest charges accrued. Therefore, it is important to keep the Registry and the post office informed of a current name and address so that excise bills can be delivered promptly. All owners of motor vehicles must pay an excise tax; therefore it is the responsibility of the owner to contact this office if you have not received a bill.

What happens if my payment is late?
Due to the recent changes in our office we no longer take outstanding excise tax payments at the Collector office in City Hall.

This includes: Warrant notices (yellow bills), Final Warrant notices (green bills), and any bills Flagged at the Registry of Motor Vehicles.

To make payments on these bills you will have to contact the Deputy Collectors Office:

Hours | Monday-Friday - 9AM - 5PM 
Located At | 34 Salem Street Reading MA
Mailing Address |  PO Box 397 Reading, MA 01867
Customer Service | (781) 944-8504
Pay online: https://paybills.deputycollector.com/

Fees:
If an excise is not paid within 30 days from the date of issue, a demand will be sent. The charge for the demand is $30. Interest accrues on the overdue bill from the day after the due date until the date of payment at an annual rate of 12 percent.

If the demand is not answered within 14 days, a warrant will be issued by the deputy collector. The taxpayer is then additionally liable for a warrant fee of $13. The warrant notice sent by the deputy collector costs $12.
If this notice is not answered than a final warrant, a service warrant, will be delivered or exhibited to the taxpayer at his/her residence at a fee of $17.00. All bills should clearly state the interest and penalty charges.

How does non-payment of motor vehicle excise affect license and registration?
If the service warrant demanding final payment is ignored, the deputy collector may then notify the Registry of Motor Vehicles of such non-payment, including all accrued interest and penalty fees. The Registrar may then mark the individual’s registration preventing the renewal of the motor vehicle registration and the owner’s driver’s license until such time as the Registry is notified that full and final payment has been made to the deputy collector. This payment shall include a $20 release fee as final settlement of the delinquent excise. At this time all delinquent bills must be paid, whether they are marked at the registry or not, by cash or money order. Once the bill(s) has been paid the owner will receive a receipt and an electronic release will be sent to the Registry clearing the hold.

What if I no longer own the vehicle?
Please view the Assessors page for information on abatements.

Other Frequently Asked Questions

What are personal property taxes?
All personal property situated in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and personal property belonging to the inhabitants of the Commonwealth wherever situated, is subject to taxation unless expressly exempted by law.

What property is taxable?
Tangible (that is, physical) property is subject to the personal property tax unless exempted by statute. Items defined as tangible personal property range from the chairs in a barbershop to the furnishings of a doctor’s waiting room; from the drills used by a dentist to the poles owned by a utility.

What property is exempt?
Please contact the Assessor’s Office.

When is Personal Property billed?
Personal Property is on the same billing schedule as Real Estate.

Where can I find Senior Citizen abatement information?
Visit the Assessor's webpage for the latest information and forms.

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