Department of Finance - Property Taxes

TAXES ARE DUE ON AUGUST 12, 2011 and FEBRUARY 3, 2012.

Assessment of Current Taxes

Each year, the Board of Listers establishes a Grand List of all property values in the Town, as of each April 1. This List is used to determine the taxes that are assessed for each fiscal year. After the Town and School budgets are passed at the Annual Town and School District meetings, and the State determines the amount of tax dollars to be collected for education expenses, the Board of Selectmen set the tax rate. The tax rate is broken down into five categories - town general appropriations, town special appropriations, county assessment, statewide education assessment, and local education assessment. Rates are per $100 of property valuation. Rates for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2010 (total tax rate $2.0840/$100 Homestead Tax Rate and $2.1367/$100 Non-Residential Tax Rate), are as follows:

Town general appropriations - $.7020
Town special appropriations - $.0107
County assessment - $.0088
Local Agreement Rate - $.0016
Education Homestead Tax Rate - $1.3609
Education Non-Residental Tax Rate - $1.4136

TAXES WILL BE DUE ON AUGUST 12, 2011 AND FEBRUARY 3, 2012 FOR THE 2012 TAX YEAR

Collection of Current Taxes

Taxes are billed based on the Town's fiscal year, which runs from July 1 to June 30. Taxes are payable in two equal installments. The first installment, which covers the period from July 1 to December 31, is billed in early July, and is usually due on the third Friday in August (August 13 this year). The second installment, which covers the period from January 1 to June 30, is also billed in July and is due on February 4, 2011 for this fiscal year. Each installment must be paid on or before the due date in order to avoid the assessment of interest and penalties. Payments that are sent by mail are considered to be timely paid so long as the envelope is postmarked by the U.S. Postal Service by the due date.

Taxes that are unpaid after the August installment is due are subject to interest at the rate of 1% for each month or part of a month that they are late. Taxes that are unpaid after the February installment is due are considered to be delinquent, and are subject to a delinquent tax penalty of 8%, plus interest at the rate of 1% for each month or part of a month that they are delinquent, for the first three months, and at the rate of 1 ½% for each month or part of a month that they are delinquent thereafter. These rates are established by State statutes and apply even if the taxes are only one day late. The Finance Department has no authority to waive or abate the interest and penalty charges.

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