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Frequently Asked Questions
WHAT IS THE PRESENT PROPERTY TAX RATE?
The property tax rate is expressed in mills, or thousandths of a dollar.
The mill rate for the 2007 Grand List is 28.05 mills.
The 28.05 mills are equivalent to $28.05 in taxes per $1,000 of net assessed value.
HOW IS THE TAX RATE ESTABLISHED?
As part of the municipal budget process it is the responsibility of the Town Council to adopt an operating budget. At their annual meeting in April when the Town Council adopts the budget, they also set the tax rate in mills, which will be levied on all taxable property in the Town for the ensuring fiscal year.
WWHAT DO I OWN THAT IS SUBJECT TO TAXES AND WHEN ARE THEY DUE?
Three types of property are assessed and subject to taxes: Real Estate, Motor Vehicle, and Business Personal Property. Any land or building you own are considered real property. Registered motorized or unmotorized vehicles, (including cars, trucks, trailers and motorcycles) are considered motor vehicles for tax purposes. Business Personal Property is a general category including business equipment, machinery, furniture and fixtures either owned or leased by businesses. Unregistered motor vehicles are also taxed as personal property.
Taxes are due in July and January. Real Estate taxes over $100.00 are due in two installments. The first installment is due July 1, payable without penalty by August 1st. The second installment is due January 1st, payable by February 1st. These taxes cover the time period July1st through June 30th.
Personal Property and Motor Vehicle taxes are due in one installment on July 1st, payable without penalty by August 1st.
Supplemental Motor Vehicle tax bills are pro-rated bills, for vehicles newly registered after the assessment date of October 1. The supplemental bill is due in one installment on January 1st, and payable without penalty by February 1st.
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HOW CAN YOU CHARGE INTEREST WHEN I NEVER RECEIVED A TAX BILL?
Failure to receive a tax bill does not exempt you from payment of all taxes and all interest charges. If you do not receive a bill for which you are responsible, call the Collector of Revenue at (203) 271-6630 and request a copy.
Any tax or sewer payment received after the deadline is late and subject to interest pursuant to Connecticut General Statute 12-146. When addressing the non-receipt of a tax or sewer bill, Connecticut case law has consistently ruled that it is the duty of the property owner to pay the tax when it is due. Not receiving a bill does not invalidate the tax or eliminate the statutory interest that must be collected on all late payments.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I PAY LATE?
LATE IS LATE.
The July installment is due now and payable on or before August 1, 2007.
Taxes are due on July 1, 2007, payable August 1, 2007 and January 1, 2008, payable February 1, 2008.
You have a one-month grace period from the due date in which to pay taxes without penalty. Late payments are subject to interest charges at the rate of 1.5% per month from the due date. For example a payment made after August 2nd is subject to 3% interest- 1.5 % per month for two months: July and August.
You may pay your taxes in person, by mail, or over the Internet at www.officialpayments.com or by calling 1-800-2PAY-TAX.
WHEN ARE SEWER USE BILLS DUE AND WHAT TIME FRAME DOES IT COVER?
Sewer Use bills are due December 1, payable without penalty by January 1.
This charge covers the period of December 1 through the following November 30.
For more information about your sewer use bill, contact the Public Works Department at (203) 271-6650.
CAN I PAY ALL MY TAXES ON ONE CHECK?
Yes. You may pay all of your taxes on one check, however, be sure to reference all the account numbers on the memo line of your check.
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CAN I PAY MY TAXES WITH A CREDIT CARD?
Yes. The Town of Cheshire has a service agreement with Official Payments Corporation to accept credit card payments over the telephone or over the Internet. Under the agreement, taxpayers may pay their property taxes, sewer use, sewer and water assessments and all other charges by visiting the company’s web site, www.officialpayments.com, or via telephone by calling 1-800-2PAY-TAX, and entering Jurisdiction Code 1717.
Official Payments Corporation charges taxpayers a convenience fee for processing the credit card transaction. The fee schedule can be found on the web address listed above. The convenience fee is disclosed up front, and taxpayers have the opportunity to “back out” of the transaction.
The Office of the Collector of Revenue does not accept credit card payments in the office. If you wish to pay with a credit card you must contact Official Payments Corporation directly.
MY REAL ESTATE BILL IS SUPPOSED TO BE PAID BY MY MORTGAGE COMPANY.
WHAT SHOULD I DO WITH THE BILL I RECEIVED?
If your bill is supposed to be paid from an escrow account, please call your escrow agent or mortgage company immediately. They must in turn notify the Collector of Revenue that they are (1) responsible for this payment and (2) to code your real estate account so that they will receive future tax bills. If time is of the essence, please make a copy of your bill, circle the dollar amount of the real property payment due, write your loan number on the bill, and immediately forward the bill to your escrow agent or mortgage company with a note explaining the situation. The appropriate address for this purpose should be in your mortgage payment coupon book..
I AM BEING IMPROPERLY BILLED FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE. WHAT SHOULD I DO?
Contact the Assessor’s Office at (203) 271-6620.
Do Not Ignore Your Bill. Even if your vehicle has been sold, and the registration plates have been returned to the Department of Motor Vehicle; the vehicle was stolen and not recovered; the vehicle was involved in a crash and declared a total loss; or you have moved from Cheshire or moved from Connecticut.
If any of these situations applies to you, you may be entitled to a credit. Contact the Assessor’s Office for information regarding the acceptable forms of proof for the issuance of a credit.
WHAT IF I RECEIVED A TAX BILL FOR REAL ESTATE THAT I NO LONGER OWN?
Please notify the Collector of Revenue immediately at (203) 271-6630.
COULD I BE ELIGIBLE FOR ANY EXEMPTION OR ABATEMENTS?
You may be. There are numerous state and locally funded exemptions for veterans; disabled veterans; low-income veterans; or the spouse of a deceased veteran. There are also exemptions for the blind persons; totally disabled persons; and for owners of vehicles that have certain ambulance type modifications. There is an abatement for members of the Cheshire Volunteer Fire Department and for active servicemen or servicewomen who own motor vehicles that remain registered in Connecticut. There are also various exemptions given to farmers, and for farm land, forest land and open space.
For details about these exemptions, or you think you may qualify, contact the Assessor’s Office at (203) 271-6620.
ARE THERE ANY BREAKS FOR SENIOR CITIZENS OR DISABLED TAXPAYERS?
Yes. If you or your spouse is age 65 or older, permanently reside in Cheshire (legal residence), either own your own home or rent, and meet certain income and/or disability restrictions, you may be eligible for one or more forms of town or state-financed tax relief. To inquire about eligibility requirements, or for information about these programs, contact the Assessor’s Office at (203) 271-6620. You may also inquire in person at the Assessor’s Office on the first floor of Town Hall. These programs offer tax credits, which directly reduce the amount of tax you must pay.
WHAT IF I THINK MY ASSESSMENT IS TOO HIGH?
Your first appeal should be directed to the Assessor, and then to the Board of Assessment Appeals, a citizen board which meets in February and September. If you are dissatisfied with the Board’s decision, you may take your appeal to the Superior Court within two months of the Board’s action.
Appearance before the Board of Assessment Appeals is required, but you do not need to hire an attorney. All documentation substantiating your appeal must be presented at that time.
For more information about the appeal process, contact the Assessor’s Office at (203) 271-6620.
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