Tax Collector

The Tax Collector is responsible for collection of monies for the Town including:

  • Real Estate Tax
  • Personal Property Tax
  • Sewer Bills 
  • Motor Vehicle Excise Tax
  • Parking Tickets
  • Municipal Lien Certificates 

Real Estate and Personal Property bills are generated by the assessor's office bi-annually on January 1st and July 1st and are due on the first business day of the quarter as shown below for Current Fiscal Year 2024:

  • Quarter 1 Due on Tuesday August 1st, 2023
  • Quarter 2 Due on Wednesday November 1st, 2023
  • Quarter 3 Due on Thursday February 1st, 2024
  • Quarter 4 Due on Wednesday May 1st, 2024

Sewer bills are generated by the wastewater sewer department bi-annually (Oct/Apr) and are due 30 days from bill date.

Motor Vehicle Excise Tax bills are generated and mailed various times throughout the year by the Registry of Motor Vehicles and are due 30 days from bill date. Overdue Motor Vehicle Excise taxes are collected directly by our Deputy Collector Jeffery and Jeffery online here or at their office 137 Main Street, P.O. Box 720, Ware MA 01082. To contact them please call 413-967-9941.

Payments must be received in the Collector's office by end of business day on the due date. Postmarks are not accepted as receipt dates to avoid additional charges. Late charges and interest are in accordance with Mass. General Laws.

Payment Options for current bills due listed on top of your bills and below:

  • Cash - In person only. Do not put money in the Drop box or Mail.
  • *Checks or Money Orders - 24hr Drop Box attached to the building or by Mail. Both options should be made payable to 'Town of Palmer' with current bill number listed in memo, submitted with 'Collector's Copy' vouchers, and use envelope provided in current billing (do not use old envelopes provided in the past, our payment lock box address has changed). If you would like a receipt, come in or enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope.
  • Online - Our direct electronic Tax Payments using Unipay. Please see UniPay Fees 
  • *EFT (Electronic Funds Transfer) - This is 'online bill pay' through YOUR personal bank. When using this option please be aware that this is not electronic from your bank account to the Town of Palmer, it is an Electronic Funds Transfer from your account to your bank. When you see the funds pull from your account that does not mean we received payment, this is the bank transferring your money to deposit to their general ledger account, to then cut a physical check, to then be mailed. If using this option, please be sure to make checks payable to 'Town of Palmer' with your bill number in the memo and mail directly to 4417 Main Street Palmer MA 01069.
  • Bank/Mortgage Company - If your taxes are paid by a bank or mortgage company, please make sure they have the correct information, remember as property owner you are ultimately responsible. By law we are required to send you a copy of the bill for your records.
*Bad checks, for any reason, will have a $25.00 fine attached.

Abatements or Billing Address Changes:

  • Real Estate, Personal Property, and Motor Vehicle Excise bills are handled by the Assessors 413-283-2607.
  • Sewer bills are handled by the Waste Water Treatment Plant 413-283-2671.

Water bills are billed and collected by each Water Department:

Municipal Lien Certificates (MLC) fee is $50.00 Per Parcel (Residential/Commercial). Please double check deed to be sure parcel(s) is/(are) accounted. Send in your form (or fill out our form provided below) with a check and a self-addressed stamped envelope.

DLS MV FREQUENTLY ASKED QS
SEC MV EXCISE INFORMATION
SEC MV EXCISE WEB PAGE
Municipal Lien Certificate - Request Form