Massachusetts § 42J - Deferral of charges

§ 42J. Deferral of charges

Section 42J. In a city, town or district which accepts the provisions of this section, the board responsible for assessing charges for the use of water under section sixty-nine B of chapter forty-one or any other provision of law, shall, upon the application of the owner of the real property to which the water is supplied, if such owner is receiving an exemption from property taxes under clause Forty-first A of section five of chapter fifty-nine with respect to such property, defer charges for water supplied to such property. An application for deferral may be filed with said board within the time limit established for the filing of an application for exemption under said clause Forty-first A.

The board that imposes such charges shall notify the board of assessors of any deferral granted under the provisions of this section, and shall annually thereafter notify said board of assessors of any unpaid water rates and charges to be added to the tax bill. Such charges shall be committed by the assessors along with the real estate taxes for each fiscal year, and secured by the statement of lien executed pursuant to said clause Forty-first A. Upon such qualification for deferral, no further application under this section need be filed in order to qualify for deferral of water charges in subsequent years. No additional notice or statement of lien need be recorded or registered with respect to such deferred water charges, but the amount of such deferred charges shall be listed on any certificate of liens issued under section twenty-three, twenty-three A or twenty-three B of chapter sixty. Whenever a person who has received an exemption under said clause Forty-first A ceases to receive such exemption, the board of assessors shall cease deferring water rates and charges added to the tax bill, and shall notify the board responsible for the assessment of such charges of the discontinuance of such deferral of said charges.

Interest shall be charged upon deferred water charges at the same rate as interest on taxes deferred under said clause Forty-first A. The deferred charges, together with accrued interest shall be due and collectible at the same time and upon the same terms and conditions as taxes deferred under said clause Forty-first A.

The amount of water charges deferred under this section, plus accrued interest, shall not be used in determining whether a taxpayer continues to be eligible for exemption under said clause Forty-first A.