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The Tax Collector's office handles many requests for information from taxpayers, lending institutions, attorneys, title searchers and appraisers. The primary responsibility of the office is the billing and collection of property taxes, special service charges, and special assessments. All taxes, special service charges and special assessments are collected according to the dictates of the Statutes of the State of Connecticut.
The Tax Office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 to 4:30.
The Basics of Collection
Real estate, personal property, motor vehicle taxes and special service charges (sewer use and waste collection) become due July 1 of each year. The billing period is from October 1 of the previous year to the following September 30. For example: the October 1, 2000 Grand List becomes due July 1, 2001 and covers the billing period from October 1, 2000 through September 30, 2001.
The July 1 installment must be paid on or before the first business day of August. The January installment must be paid on or before the first business day of February. All late payments are charged interest at the rate of 18% a year. When payments are made late, the interest reverts to the due date of July 1st and January 1st. Therefore, in August and February 3% interest immediately becomes due. The minimum interest charge is $2.00. For each subsequent month an additional 1 1/2% is charged. Interest charges cannot be waived for any reason. The Statutes state, "failure to receive a bill does not abate the tax or the interest." It is the taxpayer's responsibility to know what taxes are due and make sure that they are paid in a timely manner.
Please note: All bills must be corrected and paid within the interest free payment period to avoid an interest charge.
Real Estate and Personal Property Taxes
Real estate and personal property taxes less than $100 are due in full in July. If the tax is over $100, the taxpayer has the option of paying half of the tax in July and the balance the following January.
Please note: that all payment copies are sent in July and there is no separate billing for the January installment.
Motor Vehicle Taxes and Special Service Charges
Motor vehicle taxes and special service charges are due in full in July.
Supplemental Motor Vehicle Taxes
Supplemental motor vehicle taxes are due January 1. Any motor vehicle, including plate transfers, newly registered subsequent to October 1 will be taxed the following January.
Frequently asked questions
| Q. |
I am selling my house, what happens to the taxes that I have already paid? |
| A. |
Real estate taxes and special service charges are adjusted at closing on a fiscal year basis (July 1 through June 30). |
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I moved within the State of Connecticut, what should I do about my motor vehicle taxes? |
| A. |
You need to pay the tax in full to the town in which you lived on October 1 and immediately notify the Department of Motor Vehicles of your new address. |
| Q. |
I moved out of the State of Connecticut, what should I do about my motor vehicle taxes? |
| A. |
Our Assessor will need a copy of your out-of-state registration. The bill will be prorated from the date that your vehicle was registered out of state through September 30. Be sure to return your plates to the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles, 60 State Street, Wethersfield, CT 06109. |
| Q. |
I no longer have the motor vehicle for which I am being billed, what should I do? |
| A. |
If you transferred the plates to another vehicle, you need to pay the July bill and a supplemental motor vehicle bill will be issued the following January. If you did not transfer the plates, our Assessor will need proof of disposition of the vehicle such as a bill of sale, etc. You will need to contact our Assessor's Office for further details. |
| Q. |
How are tax refund/overpayments handled? |
| A. |
For a variety of reasons, overpayments occur on tax accounts. The tax office regularly reviews the tax accounts for overpayments. Once an overpayment is detected, the refund process is dictated by state statute. The Town cannot just cut a check for the amount of the overpayment. First, and foremost, the Tax Office must determine that the payment was actually made on behalf of that taxpayer and that a mistake had not been made in the application of the payment. This process requires a lot of work because it usually involves contact with one or more lending institutions, obtaining a closing document and discussion with one or more taxpayers (buyer and seller). Once the tax office receives the required documentation and is satisfied that the payment was applied correctly, we need to determine who made the erroneous payment and to whom the money should be refunded. Once this process has been completed, the taxpayer must sign a refund request. The request must then be submitted to the Town Council for approval at their next meeting. The entire process can take up to six weeks. |
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