Taxation Aid Fund

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APPLICATION PROCESS

Taxation aid will be awarded annually. Applications for FY25 will be due by November 1, 2025. Notifications of the Taxation Aid Committee decisions will be mailed to all applicants by December 31, 2025.

Please review and confirm your eligibility (information below) prior to submitting an application.

The application form is available in the Town Treasurer/Collector Office, the Assessor Office, the Ames Senior Center, or online using this link: Taxation Aid Fund Application.

Please return completed application to:

Town of Dedham Treasurer/Collector Office
Taxation Aid Committee
450 Washington Street
Dedham, MA 02026

Your 2024 Federal income tax submission must accompany this application, if you are required to file. All information supplied to the committee will be held in the strictest confidence and held by the Office of the Treasurer.

Eligibility

“Elderly” is here defined as a person who is 60 or older on or before the year of the application.

“Disabled” is defined, for the purposes of this application, as a person who is not able to work. The applicant must currently be receiving disability benefits from a government program based on determination of disability, such as SSI. SSDI, VA, or Worker’s Compensation. Documentation must be submitted with this application.

An applicant must be the titled owner of the property or hold a life estate in the property. If the home is held by a trust, applicant must be a trustee and a 50% beneficiary of the trust. Trust documentation must be submitted with the application. These conditions apply to both elderly and/or disabled applicants.

Applicants must have lived in Dedham and paid real estate taxes on a primary domicile for 5 or more sequential years immediately preceding the date of the application.

Income shall include all income such as pensions, interest from savings accounts, dividends, IRA’s, stocks or bonds, etc. Gross income limits: Single $40,000, Couple $55,000. These amounts may be revisited annually, if deemed necessary by the committee.

Assets, which include stocks, bonds, CDs, IRAs, Annuities, rental income exclusive of depreciation, and any other assets with monetary value, will be considered in determining eligibility and aid amount.

About the Taxation Aid Fund

On May 19, 2014, Annual Town Meeting voted to approve Article 37, accepting Section 3D of Chapter 60 of the Massachusetts General Laws. Chapter 166 of the Acts of 1998 authorizes cities and towns to establish a fund for the purpose of accepting donations for property tax relief for certain seniors and disabled taxpayers.

The statute calls for a five-member committee to be created, charged with establishing rules and guidelines for the distribution of funds, as well as the review of applications and their approval. The five-member board consists of the Town Treasurer or designee, the Chair of the Board of Assessors or designee, and three citizens appointed by the Select Board.

Purpose of the Taxation Aid Fund

The Taxation Aid Fund was established to provide tax assistance for elderly and disabled Dedham residents to defray the costs of their property taxes. Qualified recipients will be resident homeowners with limited income and assets. Funding will be by voluntary contributions from individuals, businesses and organizations the sole intent of which is to provide real estate property tax relief for the most vulnerable members of our community.

CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE FUND

Contributions are collected through voluntary donations made by individuals, businesses, and organizations allowing the Town to establish a fund to defray the real estate taxes of low-income elderly and disabled Dedham residents. Awards will be made yearly and applied directly to the approved applicant’s property tax bill. The amount of each individual award will be determined by the number of applicants, the available money in the fund, and the demonstrated need as evaluated by the five-member committee. Because these factors are variable, awards are expected to vary from year to year. All applications are confidential and will be reviewed only within executive sessions.

HOW TO DONATE:

The Taxation Aid Fund is solely supported by donations from individuals, businesses, community groups, churches, and friends. Because funding for this program comes solely from donations, the town will not, and cannot, guarantee a level of assistance, nor can it guarantee that aid will be recurring. For this reason, donations are always needed and will be gratefully accepted by the Select Board in any amount and at any time. Please consult your personal tax advisor regarding the deductibility of your donation for income tax purposes.

Donations can be conveniently made on each property tax bill. Per MA law governing this program, a donation made via the tax bill must be at least $1. Donations can be made online, or you send a check payable to the Town of Dedham. Please mail checks to:

Town of Dedham Treasurer/Collector Office
Taxation Aid Committee
450 Washington Street
Dedham, MA 02026

DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS

Funds will be disbursed, based on need, as determined by the Taxation Aid Committee. Since the funds are replenished annually through voluntary contributions, the amount disbursed will vary from year to year.

The amount an eligible applicant will receive is dependent upon total funds available and total number of eligible applicants, and demonstrated need.

The Town may at any time or for any reason, with or without notice, modify or discontinue the assistance and eligibility criteria, or terminate assistance.

Assistance is for one fiscal year only. To continue assistance, a new application must be submitted each subsequent year.

The taxation aid grant will be deducted from your real estate tax bill and will not exceed the real estate tax liability. This application does not stay the collection of your taxes. Your taxes are still due and must be paid on time.

Applications for FY2026 will be due by November 1, 2025. Notification of the Taxation Aid Committee’s decisions will be mailed to all applicants by December 31, 2025.

Please return completed application to:

Town of Dedham Treasurer/Collector Office
Taxation Aid Committee
450 Washington Street
Dedham, MA 02026

Town of Dedham

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