How to get a tax delinquent list in Massachusetts
In Massachusetts, unpaid property tax is collected by the city or town tax collector and treasurer. The system for unpaid tax is: tax taking by the city or town. Some counties publish their list free; LeadCounty matches, scores and filters the records for you.
Where the official list lives
The office is the city or town tax collector and treasurer. Whether it shows a full delinquent list, a parcel-by-parcel search or a sale notice, and whether there is a fee, is decided by each county, so check the office's website for your county.
Property tax rolls and ownership come from the county auditor, assessor or appraiser. A parcel number links the tax record to the deed and the owner's mailing address.
The free route
Many counties let you look up a parcel's tax status for free, and some publish the whole list. If you only need one list in one county, the county office may be enough. LeadCounty is useful when you want the records of many offices matched to the right property, scored with reasons, and refreshed every week, with filters such as years behind, amount owed and absentee owner.
Tax delinquent properties in Massachusetts counties we cover
We do not track a tax-delinquent list in a Massachusetts county yet. Ask for a county.
Massachusetts tax sale rules at a glance
- Unpaid tax
- Tax taking by the city or town. The city or town takes a tax title on the property and may assign it to an investor; the right to redeem ends only through a Land Court case.
- Redemption period
- The owner can redeem until the Land Court forecloses the right of redemption; 2024 reforms require surplus equity to go back to the owner.
- Mortgage foreclosure
- Non-judicial. Most foreclosures use the power of sale out of court, after a short Land Court servicemembers case.
- Statute
- M.G.L. Chapter 60 (collection of taxes)
General information, not legal advice. Check the statute and the county office before you act.
Questions
Who has the tax delinquent list in Massachusetts?
Unpaid property tax is collected by the city or town tax collector and treasurer. Some counties publish the full list on that office's website; others only let you search one parcel at a time. The format and any fee are set by each county.
Is the tax delinquent list in Massachusetts free?
Often the county shows delinquent accounts for free, one parcel at a time. Some publish a full list or sell it. LeadCounty's value is matching, scoring and filtering the records, not owning them.
What happens to a tax delinquent property in Massachusetts?
See the table above for the sale type and redemption period. Check the statute and your county office for the current rules.
How we make these guides
Written by the LeadCounty editorial and data team from official county, court and state sources and our own weekly counts. We name the office behind every number, say what we cannot see, and fix mistakes when you tell us. See our editorial standards and methodology. General information, not legal or financial advice. Refreshed weekly.
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