Mass. Gov. Seeks Tax Relief For Localities Due To COVID-19

Massachusetts would allow municipalities to offer tax relief, including penalty waivers and deadline extensions, in response to the novel coronavirus pandemic under a bill recently announced by the governor.

Under the legislation filed Tuesday by Republican Gov. Charlie Baker, municipalities would be allowed to waive late-payment penalties for tax bills due May 1. The measure would also allow municipalities to change the tax bills' due date and extend the property tax exemption and deferral deadline from April 1 to June 1, Baker said in a statement.

The provisions are part of numerous other proposed administrative relief measures for local governments to offset the economic impact of COVID-19 and the public health measures addressing the pandemic. 

--Editing by Neil Cohen.

For a reprint of this article, please contact reprints@law360.com.