There is a penalty for failing to file the Form of List pursuant to M.G.L. Chapter 59, Section 64. If you do not file a Form of List for the fiscal year, the assessors cannot grant an abatement. If you show a reasonable excuse for filing late, the tax assessed cannot be reduced lower than 150% of the amount that would have been assessed if the list had been timely filed. In that case, only the amount over that percentage can be abated. You can avoid this penalty by filing on time.

The Board of Assessors may extend the filing deadline if you can show a sufficient reason for not filing on time. Requests for an extension must be made in writing to the assessors.

Forms of List must be filed by March 1 with the Assessing Division in the city where the personal property is situated on January 1. The principal exception is in situations where personal property has only a temporary location as of January 1, then it must be listed on a Form of List filed with the assessors in the city or town where the owner is domiciled (legal residence or place of business). A Form of List is not considered filed unless it is complete.

This form must be filed each year by all individuals, partnerships, associations, trusts and corporations that own or hold taxable personal property on January 1, except telephone and telegraph companies and owners of pipelines that are required to file a personal property return with the Mass. Dept. of Revenue.

Literary, temperance, benevolent, charitable or scientific organizations that may be entitled to an exemption must file State Tax Form 3 ABC listing all property they own or hold for those purposes on January 1.

State Tax Form 2 (PDF Version) is a form listing all personal property assets of an organization for the current fiscal year. Filing a Form of List is required by Mass General laws, statute Chapter 59 Section 38F. Each year, prior to March 1, all persons subject to taxation in a city or town must submit a list of all their personal property, which is not exempt from taxation. These personal estate items must be included on the documentation known as the Form of List.

In general, all tangible personal property situated in Massachusetts and all tangible personal property owned by Massachusetts domiciliaries is taxable unless expressly exempt. There are many exemptions, which are usually based on (1) ownership, (2) type of property, or (3) use of property.

Individuals, Partnerships, Associations, Trusts, and Limited Liability Companies (LLC) filing federally as partnerships, disregarded entities (except LLC or other entity electing to be treated federally as disregarded entity with S corporation as its sole member) and other non-corporate entities.

Personal property is all tangible property other than real property, including, but not limited to: business equipment, office machinery, inventory, furniture and fixtures not located at the owner's domicile on January 1

A taxpayer may file an abatement application and receive an abatement for any of the following reasons:

To be eligible for a motor vehicle excise exemption, a veteran must, as documented by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, have actually lost, or have the permanent loss of use of, at least one foot or hand, or have permanent legal blindness in at least one eye, due to his or her military service. A veteran who does not have one of those specific disabilities can also qualify for an excise exemption if the RMV's Medical Advisory Board (MAB) has determined the veteran is permanently disabled due to his or her military service. MGL c. 60A, sec. 1.