NORTHAMPTON — Applicants for the Senior and Veteran Tax Work Off programs are now being accepted for the 2026 program year.
In 2024, participants provided quality volunteer services to city departments while earning $57,497 in property tax relief.
The 2025 program ends on Oct. 31. The deadline to apply for the 2026 program year is Friday, Nov. 14.
The program provides an opportunity for eligible residents in the community to share their skills and expertise to the benefit of the city while earning tax credits toward their property taxes.
The Veteran Tax Work Off Program is open to veterans regardless of income limits, who own property in and pay real estate taxes to the city of Northampton. The program offers a maximum of $1,500 in tax credit, which requires 100 hours of volunteer service.
Central Hampshire Veterans’ Services Director Steven Connor told Reminder Publishing that the intention of the program is to get veterans and seniors involved in the community.
“That’s the goal of it. Yes, it gives some financial relief, but the big goal was to get veterans involved in community, involved with local governments, and just being connected. That’s the objective behind it at least,” said Connor.
Connor added a lot of veterans still may be unaware of the program and its benefits as many applicants are past members of the program. He said that new veterans are welcome to apply for the program and that if enough new members are looking to join, they will receive priority over veterans who have benefited from the program in the past.
“The reaction I get [from veterans about the program] is from mostly retired veterans. For them, they’re happy doing it because it gets them out of the house and gets them connected,” said Connor. “The ones who work at the schools, or with DPW, they look forward to doing the work because they get out. It’s not really difficult work, but it’s connecting them with other people and they really do enjoy that. That’s the feedback we’ve gotten and that’s why they keep coming back.”
The Senior Tax Work Off Program is open to seniors aged 60 and older who own property in and pay real estate taxes to the city of Northampton. Income limits for the 2026 program follow the Massachusetts Median Income levels.
Participants in the Senior Tax Work Off program must complete 133.33 hours of volunteer service to receive the full $2,000 tax credit. Participants in the program must complete 133.33 hours of volunteer service to receive the full $2,000 tax credit.
Applications for interested older adults and veterans became available on Oct. 6. Applications may be downloaded from the website or may be picked up in person at the Assessor’s Office, Senior Center, or Veterans Services Office, or completed online no later than 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 14.
For more information on the Veteran Tax Work Off Program, visit northamptonma.gov/1455/Veteran-Tax-Work-Off-Program, and more information about the Senior Tax Work Off Program can be found at northamptonma.gov/2066/Senior-Tax-Work-Off-Program.
Those looking for more information can also contact the Senior Center at 413-587-1228 or Veterans Services at 413-587-1299.
“When they go to fill out the application, they’re going to be asked: what are your interests? What do you have skills in? Be prepared to tell us what you’d like to do and we will do our best to make that happen. It’s a lot easier if we know what you want and what you’re looking for, and then we make the connections,” concluded Connor.
