Berkshire County, Massachusetts

76 East St
Pittsfield, Massachusetts 01201

Berkshire County Property Assessment Adjustment Instructions

Get together any important documents like your most recent property tax assessment and any info about changes to your property or situation that may impact your taxes. (https://www.berkshirecountyrealproperty.com/)
Check the deadline for filing an appeal, usually around April or May. Verify the exact date by checking the county website or giving the tax assessor's office a call. (https://www.berkshirecountyrealproperty.com/)
Reach out to the Berkshire County tax assessor's office to schedule a meeting or hearing to present your case. Sometimes, you may be able to file your appeal in writing, but it's best to double-check the process with the county. (https://www.berkshirecountyrealproperty.com/)
Write up a statement outlining the reasons for your appeal, and include any evidence you have to back up your case. Don't forget to include any relevant documents, such as a property appraisal or sales contract.
Attend the meeting or hearing and tell your side of the story to the county's board of assessment review. Be prepared to answer any questions they may have.
The board of assessment review will give your appeal some thought and make a decision. If you don't like the decision, you may be able to file an appeal in Superior Court.
Check the county website or contact the county to find out the outcome of your appeal.
If you think your property taxes are too high, you may consider getting help from a professional property tax consultant or lawyer to help you through the process. (https://www.berkshirecountyrealproperty.com/property-tax-appeals)

URLs

Please note that the URLs are provided as a reference and it's always better to check with the county website for the most updated information, as these might be different or unavailable.

Here's how to lower your property taxes in Berkshire county

Contact the county assessor

Contact the Berkshire county tax assessor's office and ask for a review of the property's value. Call Berkshire county at 413-499-7487 and ask to be connected to the county assessor. If the assessor determines that your property is worth less than the value on which your taxes are based, your property taxes may be lowered.

Tax exemptions

Start by finding what your tax bill is. Typically you will find your tax bill information on your mortgage statement. Look for tax exemptions or credits that you may be eligible for. Many states and localities offer exemptions or credits for homeowners who meet certain criteria, information such as being over a certain age or having a low income. Berkshire county may have these types of exemptions available for homeowners. These exemptions and credits can lower the property tax you owe.

Appeal tax assessment

Appeal the property tax assessment. If you believe that your property's value has been overestimated, you can typically appeal the assessment to your Berkshire county tax assessor's office. This is part of the services that your assessor's office provides. You will need to provide evidence to support your claim, such as a recent appraisal or sales data for comparable properties and homes in your area. Usually, you will meet with the Board of Equalization. If your appeal is successful, your property taxes may be lowered.

Challenge the tax rate

Consider challenging the tax rate. In some cases, the amount of property taxes you owe is not based on the value of your property, but on the tax rate set by your local government. If you believe that the tax rate is too high, you can contact your Berkshire county government and ask them to consider reducing it.

Property Tax Rules

Stay up-to-date on your property's value and property tax rules. For the purpose of lowering your Berkshire county property tax, property value is the assessed property value and not the market property value. Assessed property value is used for taxation purposes while market property value is what a buyer and seller would likely agree on. Typically the assessed value is lower than the market value. Your property's value can change over time due to a variety of factors, such as changes in the local real estate market or improvements you make to your property. To ensure that your property taxes are accurate and fair, it is important to stay informed about your property's value and contact Berkshire county local tax assessor's office if you believe there has been a significant change.

Keep in mind that property tax laws and regulations can vary, so it is important to consult with your Berkshire county Massachusetts tax assessor's office for specific information about how to reduce your property taxes.

About Berkshire County

Homes in Berkshire county have a median home value of $221,100.

Berkshire county home values are ranked 13 out of 14 counties in the state of Massachusetts for median home price. The average median home value in Massachusetts is $400,226. Hampden county has the lowest median price at $215,884. Nantucket county has the highest median price at $1,152,210.

Compared to the rest of the United States, Berkshire county homes have a median home value that is above the national median value of $130,626 by ~69%.

Massachusetts Median Home Values by County

The median household income in Berkshire county is $62,166.

Compared to the state of Massachusetts and the United States, Berkshire county's median household income is lower than the state of Massachusetts's average median household income of $80,795 and higher than the United States average median household income of $54,172.

income

Berkshire county's population has decreased from 139,352 in 1990 to 129,026 in 2020, a decrease of -7.4% over that time frame.

For comparison, the state of Massachusetts's population has grown from 6,016,425 in 1990 to 7,029,917 in 2020, an increase of 17% over that time frame.

In the United States, the population has grown from 248,790,925 in 1990 to 331,449,281 in 2020, an increase of 33% over that time frame.

Berkshire county's population change from 1990 to 2020 is less than the population change for Massachusetts and the United States.

population

Berkshire County Massachusetts Cities

Adams, Ashley Falls, Becket, Cheshire, Clarksburg, Dalton, East Otis, Great Barrington, Hancock, Housatonic, Lee, Lenox, Lenox Dale, Mill River, Otis, Peru, Pittsfield, Richmond, Sandisfield, Savoy, Sheffield, South Egremont, Southfield, Stockbridge, Tyringham, West Otis, West Stockbridge, Williamstown

Berkshire County Massachusetts Zipcodes

01029 / 01201 / 01220 / 01222 / 01223 / 01225 / 01226 / 01230 / 01235 / 01236 / 01237 / 01238 / 01240 / 01242 / 01244 / 01245 / 01247 / 01253 / 01254 / 01255 / 01256 / 01257 / 01258 / 01259 / 01262 / 01264 / 01266 / 01267 /

Massachusetts Counties

Barnstable / Berkshire / Bristol / Dukes / Essex / Franklin / Hampden / Hampshire / Middlesex / Nantucket / Norfolk / Plymouth / Suffolk / Worcester

States

Alabama / Alaska / Arizona / Arkansas / California / Colorado / Connecticut / Delaware / Florida / Georgia / Hawaii / Idaho / Illinois / Indiana / Iowa / Kansas / Kentucky / Louisiana / Maine / Maryland / Massachusetts / Michigan / Minnesota / Mississippi / Missouri / Montana / Nebraska / Nevada / New Hampshire / New Jersey / New Mexico / New York / North Carolina / North Dakota / Ohio / Oklahoma / Oregon / Pennsylvania / Rhode Island / South Carolina / South Dakota / Tennessee / Texas / Utah / Vermont / Virginia / Washington / West Virginia / Wisconsin / Wyoming