Search Suffolk County Property Tax Records

Suffolk County property tax records cover Boston, Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop. You can search deed history, check assessed values, look up current tax rates, and find exemption programs through several free online tools. This guide points you to the right offices, portals, and steps to find Suffolk County property records quickly and at no cost.

Suffolk County Registry of Deeds

The Suffolk County Registry of Deeds records and stores all property documents for Boston, Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop. It is located at 24 New Chardon Street, Boston, MA 02114. The phone number is 617-788-6221 and the fax is 617-788-6363. You can also reach the office by email at Suffolk.Deeds@sec.state.ma.us. Register of Deeds Stephen J. Murphy oversees the office.

Office hours run Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:45 PM. Document recording hours are 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The office is closed weekends and legal holidays. You can visit in person to search records, request copies, or record new documents during these hours.

Historical property records for Suffolk County go back to 1630, making this one of the oldest deed registries in the country. Online access through MassLandRecords.com covers recorded land documents from March 1, 1949 to present. For records older than 1949, you need to visit the Massachusetts State Archives or contact the registry directly. The Registry website at massrods.com/suffolk has current information on services, fees, and hours.

Suffolk County Property Tax Records Search Tools

Several free tools give you online access to Suffolk County property records. The best tool depends on what you are looking for. Deed images and ownership history come from the registry. Assessment values and tax data come from individual city or town assessors.

The Boston Property Lookup tool is the fastest way to find assessed values, owner information, and tax data for Boston properties. You can search by address and see current assessment values, tax amounts, and exemption status. An alternative Boston search portal is available at cityofboston.gov/assessing/search. Both are free and updated each fiscal year.

For deed research across all four Suffolk County communities, MassLandRecords.com gives free access to deed images and indexes back to 1949. You can view and print deed copies at no charge. Certified copies require a fee and are available from the registry office. For Revere-specific property data, the Revere Patriot Properties database lists assessed values, land details, and ownership history.

The Boston property lookup tool is the city's official portal for finding property assessment and tax data. A screenshot of the portal shows the search interface that Boston property owners and researchers use most often.

The Boston property lookup portal lets you search by street address and pulls up the current assessment, tax rate, and any exemptions applied to that parcel.

Boston Assessing Department and Property Tax Rates

The Boston Assessing Department handles property assessments for all parcels within the city. The office is located in Room 301, City Hall, 1 City Hall Square, Boston, MA 02201. The main phone number is 617-635-4287 (TRAC). Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The department's website at boston.gov/departments/assessing has assessment data, exemption applications, and property reports.

For fiscal year 2026, Boston set a residential tax rate of $12.40 per $1,000 of assessed value and a commercial rate of $26.96 per $1,000. These rates are set annually by the city council after the state Department of Revenue certifies the assessment. The rate applies to all taxable property in Boston regardless of location within the city.

Boston uses a classified tax system that allows different rates for residential and commercial property. Most Massachusetts cities use a single rate, so Boston's dual-rate structure is worth knowing when comparing tax costs across the state. More detailed assessment reports and property data are available through the Boston Open Data portal and through the Boston property data and reports page.

The Boston Assessing Department website is the official source for assessment values and tax data for all Boston properties. The assessing department page shows the tools and resources available to property owners looking to understand their bills or file for exemptions.

The Boston Assessing page links to the property lookup tool, exemption applications, and appeal forms all in one place, making it a useful first stop for most Boston property tax questions.

Boston Residential Exemption and Other Tax Relief

Boston offers one of the most generous residential exemption programs in Massachusetts. For fiscal year 2026, owner-occupants can exempt up to $351,108 of their property's assessed value, saving up to $4,353.74 on their annual tax bill. To qualify, you must own and occupy the property as your primary residence. The application deadline is April 1. You file using Form RES with the Boston Assessing Department. More detail is at the Boston Residential Exemption page.

Beyond the residential exemption, Boston and other Suffolk County communities offer additional relief programs under MGL c. 59, §5. Senior Clause 41C provides $1,000 or more off the tax bill for qualifying residents age 65 and older. Veteran exemptions range from $400 to a full exemption based on disability status. The Blind exemption under Clause 37A provides $437 to $500 in relief. Surviving spouses receive at least $234.50 under Clause 17D. The Senior Circuit Breaker Tax Credit is a state income tax credit worth up to $2,820 for qualifying seniors.

Tax Payment Options and Late Interest in Suffolk County

Property taxes in Suffolk County are billed quarterly. Due dates fall on August 1, November 1, February 1, and May 1. Each community handles its own billing. Boston uses the InvoiceCloud portal for online payments. Credit card payments carry a 2.75% fee but e-check payments are free. You can also pay by phone at 855-731-9898, by mail to City of Boston, P.O. Box 846028, Boston, MA 02284, or in person at City Hall Mezzanine, 1 City Hall Square.

Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop each have their own payment portals and in-person options. Revere payments can be made through the city's online system. Winthrop and Chelsea both accept mail and in-person payments at town or city hall. Check each city's tax collection page for current online payment links.

Late payments carry interest at 14% per year from the due date. That rate is set by state law and applies to all Suffolk County communities. If taxes remain unpaid long enough, the city can place a tax lien on the property. A lien typically follows one year of delinquency. More details on Boston collections are at the Boston Tax Collection page.

Assessor Offices for Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop

Each of the four Suffolk County communities has its own assessor's office responsible for setting property values. While Boston is by far the largest, the three smaller cities all maintain independent assessment operations.

The Chelsea Assessor's Office is at 500 Broadway, Room 23, Chelsea, MA. Phone is (617) 466-4110. Chelsea GIS property mapping is available through MapsonLine. The Revere Assessor's Office is at 281 Broadway, Revere City Hall. Phone is (781) 286-8170. Revere property records are also searchable through Patriot Properties. The Winthrop Assessor's Office is at 1 Metcalf Square. Phone is (617) 846-4344. Winthrop property data is available through the Winthrop VGSI portal.

All four cities assess property at 100% of fair cash value under MGL c. 59, §38. If you think your assessment is wrong, you can file for an abatement using Form ABT. The deadline is April 1 for the current fiscal year. If the assessors deny your request or fail to act, you can appeal to the Appellate Tax Board under MGL c. 58A.

Recording Fees and Homestead Protection

Recording a standard document at the Suffolk County Registry of Deeds costs $105 for the base fee plus $1 per page. A Declaration of Homestead costs $35 to record. Certified copies are $1 per page plus $1 for certification. These fees apply to all four Suffolk County communities.

Filing a Declaration of Homestead under MGL c. 59, §21C protects your primary residence from certain forced sales. Once recorded, the homestead protection stays in place until you sell, transfer the property, or record a revocation. Most homeowners in Suffolk County find it worthwhile to file. The registry at 24 New Chardon Street can assist with recording in person during business hours.

Cities in Suffolk County

Suffolk County has four communities. The qualifying cities below have their own dedicated property tax records pages.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Suffolk County and have their own property tax records pages.