Andover Offering Tax Exemption For Eligible Seniors

ANDOVER, MA —The Town of Andover has announced that it will offer a local exemption of property taxes for seniors who receive the Senior Circuit Breaker Income Tax Credit when filing their Massachusetts Income Tax.

To qualify for the exemption —known as the Andover Means Tested Senior Tax Exemption — residents must have owned and occupied their Andover property as their domicile for at least 10 years, be 65 years of age as of Dec. 2021, and receive the Senior Circuit Breaker Income Tax Credit when filing the 2021 Massachusetts Income Tax Return.

Applications for the tax exemption are available online and must be completed and received by 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 14. Paper copies of the application are available in the Assessor's Office and at the Senior Center, according to town officials.

Officials also remind residents applying for the tax exemption of the need to attach their Massachusetts Income Tax Return along with circuit breaker tax schedule Form CB to verify eligibility and the amount of circuit breaker credit received.

The amount of the Andover Means Tested Senior Citizen Property Tax Exemption is determined annually by the Town of Andover's Select Board.

The rules state: "The Select Board shall annually set the exemption amount provided for in this act, provided, however, that the amount of the exemption shall be up to a 100-percent match and not less than a 50-percent match of the amount of the Senior Circuit Breaker Income Tax Credit … for which the applicant received in the previous year."

The town said the Board will hold a meeting in late 2022 to determine the percentage of the Senior Circuit Breaker Tax Credit amount that will be exempted on the FY2023 real estate tax.

Questions about the Andover Means Tested Senior Citizens Property Tax Exemption should be directed to the Andover Assessor's Office at 978-623-8930 —the office is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday —or to assessor@andoverma.gov.