Tax Information FAQ GENERAL INFORMATION MOTOR VEHICLE QUESTIONS PAYMENT INFORMATION EXEMPTIONS/TAX RELIEF PROGRAMS LATE PAYMENT ISSUES PROPERTY REVALUATION REAL ESTATE QUESTIONS KEY CONTACT INFORMATION General Information Q: What if I never received a tax bill? A: Connecticut General Statutes (CGS) Section 12-130 states "...failure to send out any...tax bill shall not invalidate the tax...." Taxpayers are responsible for all owed taxes (and any accrued interest if applicable) whether or not a bill is received. If you do not receive a bill you are responsible for, please contact the Tax Collector's office @ (860) 826-3317 and request a copy. Q: Do I need to save my receipts? A: YES. Save your receipts for 15 years. This is the collectible time period according to State Statute. Receipts will be issued for payments made in person at the Tax Office window. Enclose a SASE (self addressed stamped envelope) with mailed payments and a receipt will be sent back to you. You must retain your own payment information for purposes of claiming tax credits and filling out federal and state income tax forms. Requests for information about payments made in prior fiscal years must be in writing; a fee is charged for research. Please plan ahead, as research will not be done while you wait. Q: What do I own that is subject to taxes? A: Three types of property are assessed and subject to taxes: Real Estate: Any land and/or buildings. Motor Vehicle: Registered motorized or non-motorized vehicles (cars, trucks, trailers and motorcycles) Personal Property: A general category including business equipment, machinery, furniture and fixtures either owned or leased by business. Unregistered motor vehicles are also taxed as personal property. Q: How is the tax rate established? A: The property tax rate is expressed in mills, or thousandths of a dollar. A tax rate (mill rate) of 34.98 mills is equivalent to $34.98 in taxes per $1,000 of net assessed value. It is set (established) annually in May/ June as part of the City of New Britain's municipal budget process. Q: When are taxes due? A: Taxes are due July 1st and January 1st. If a tax bill is $200 or less, the full amount is due on July 1st. Payment Information Q: What is the best way to pay my tax bill? A: The most convenient way to pay is with a check by mail. A return envelope is included with your tax bill. Write the list numbers (shown on your bill) on your check. If you wish to have a receipt returned to you, please send the entire lower portion of your tax bill and a self-addressed, stamped envelope (SASE) with your payment. We will not mail your receipt if you fail to include one. Mail payments to: Tax Collector, 27 West Main St., Room 104, New Britain, CT 06051. A $20 fee will be applied to your account for checks returned by your Financial Institution for insufficient funds. DO NOT INCLUDE CASH. Q: Can I pay my motor vehicle delinquent taxes by personal check? A: NO. If you have delinquent motor vehicle taxes, or are registering a vehicle with the Department of Motor Vehicles and require a release from the Tax Collector, you must pay with Cash, Money Order, and/ or Certified Bank Check. Q: My property has a real estate lien. Can I get it released after I pay my taxes? A: For immediate lien release, payment must be made by Cash, Money Order or Certified bank check. If payment is made by Personal check, liens will not be released for ten (10) business days. Q: May I pay my taxes with a credit or debit card? A: YES ­ but only online. Click here for details Q: Can I make partial payments for taxes? A: YES. A maximum of 4 partials are accepted per installment. Interest is charged at the statutory rate (currently 1.5% per month/ 18% per year) from the due date. Taxes must be paid in full for lien releases or for motor vehicle registration clearance. Q: Are there long lines at City Hall? A: YES - during the months of July and January. You should expect to wait in line if you plan to pay in person during this period. Lines are longest at lunchtime, and as the last day to pay approaches. When paying in person, bring your tax bill with you and write your list numbers on your check for faster service. If you want to avoid waiting in line, consider paying your bill by mail. There is also a 24-hour payment "drop box" at the front of City Hall for taxpayer convenience. Q: What are the office hours of the Tax Collector? A: Located on the first floor of New Britain City Hall, 27 West Main Street, Room 104, the Tax Office hours are: Monday through Friday, 8:15 am. ­ 3:45 pm, Thursdays until 6:45pm on the last Thursday of each month and every Thursday during the months of July & January. Late Payment Issues Q: What happens if I pay late? A: Taxes are due twice a year. You have a one-month "grace" period in which to pay without penalty, either in person or by mail. The first payment is due on July 1 st and must be paid by August 1 st to avoid interest charges. The second installment is due on January 1 st and must be paid by February 1 st to avoid interest charges. In accordance with CGS 12-146, past due payments are subject to interest at the rate of one and one half percent (1.5 %) per month from the due date of the tax (July 1). Payments made on or after Aug. 2, including payments postmarked Aug. 2 and later are past due and will incur 3% interest, representing two months' delinquency (July & August). The City is required by law to accept postmarks as the date of payment. Payments made on or after February 2 nd follow the same protocol. There is a $2.00 minimum interest charge per account. Q: Can the interest on my tax bill be waived? A: No. The Tax Collector does not have the authority to waive interest and can make NO EXCEPTIONS. (CGS 12-146) Property owners are responsible to pay taxes when due. Q: My tax bill shows "back taxes due" and I am being charged interest and other fees. What does that mean? A: According to our records, there are past due taxes in your Name, or on the parcel of property in question. Call (860) 826-3317 with questions. Delinquent taxes and interest must be paid in full before payment on current bills can be accepted. Any payment you send in toward current taxes will be applied to outstanding back taxes. Real Estate Questions Q: My real estate tax bill should be paid by my bank or mortgage company. I received the tax bill in the mail directly from the City. What should I do? A: Immediately contact the bank / mortgage company for instructions of where to send the tax bill. (The address may be printed in your mortgage payment coupon book.) After you have the information, make a copy of your bill, circle the dollar amount of the real estate tax payment due, write your loan number on it, and immediately forward it to your escrow agent or mortgage company. Additional instructions may be available on the web site of your bank/mortgage company. Q: When are real estate liens placed? A: During the first week of April Q: I recently bought (or sold) a house in New Britain and I have a question about what I owe. What should I do? A: The property tax bills due in July will reflect ownership changes recorded through early May. If you recently purchased property in New Britain, and have not received a real estate tax bill, call the Tax Collector's Office immediately at (860) 826-3317, or send a fax to (860) 612-4206, to request a copy. Check with the Assessor's Office to ensure their records have been updated. Payment must be made by August 1, whether or not a bill has been received! If you recently sold property in New Britain, and received a tax bill for the property, contact the Assessor's Office at (860) 826-3323, or by fax (860) 612-5013. Motor Vehicles Questions Q: If I am being improperly billed for a motor vehicle. What should I do? A: Contact the Assessor's Office at ph (860) 826-3323 or fax (860) 612-5013 as soon as possible. DO NOT IGNORE YOUR BILL! You may be entitled to a credit if any of these situations applies to you: If your vehicle has been sold, and plates returned to DMV; Stolen and not recovered; Declared a total loss; If you have moved from the City of New Britain or the State of Connecticut. Contact the Assessor's Office for information regarding the acceptable forms of proof for the issuance of a credit. Two forms of written proof are required. You must apply for the credit within a limited time, so do not delay! Here is a link to an informational form ( Motor Vehicle form ) to get you started. Q: I need to register my car. What do I do? A: Make sure you have no outstanding property taxes on any vehicle in your name. You will not be able to renew any registrations at the Department of Motor Vehicles without paying your taxes first. All past due taxes in your name must be paid IN FULL by cash, certified check or money order for an immediate clearance (stamp or release form). Payments made by personal check (on current tax obligations ONLY) require ten (10) business days for clearance. Q: I have moved. What is my tax jurisdiction for motor vehicle taxes? A: Your tax town is your town of residency as of October 1. If you moved from New Britain after October 1, but still reside in Connecticut, you must pay vehicle taxes to New Britain. Municipalities within Connecticut do not apportion motor vehicle tax bills for portions of a tax year. If you register the vehicle in another state, contact the Assessor's Office. If you move, you must notify the Department of Motor Vehicles of your new address within 48 hours. You should request a change of address on your driver's license and on your vehicle registration(s). Q: I recently replaced a vehicle and received a tax bill on the old one. Do I have to pay it? A: Yes. If you replaced one vehicle with another, and used the same license plates, you must pay on the "old" vehicle in July. In December, you will receive a pro-rated Supplemental motor vehicle tax bill, payable by February 1 for the new vehicle. This bill will reflect a credit for the amount you should have paid in July on the old vehicle. You will receive this credit without having to apply for it. However, you must have paid the entire amount due on the old vehicle in July. If you obtained new license plates for the new vehicle, you must apply for a credit. Contact the Assessors Office at (860) 826-3323 or by fax at (860) 612-5013. Q: What is a "supplemental" motor vehicle tax bill? A:To all persons who either: newly registered a vehicle from October 2, 2007 to July 31, 2008 or registered a vehicle with temporary commercial plates from October 2, 2007 to September 30, 2008, a "supplemental" tax is due. This tax is a pro-rated amount based on the vehicle registration date within the respective time periods mentioned above. The bills are mailed out in December (not July), due January 1st and payable by February 1st. If you replaced a vehicle and used the same plates to register the replacement vehicle, see answer above. Exemptions/Tax Relief Programs Q: Am I eligible for any exemptions? A: You may be. The exemption categories include Veteran; Spouse of a deceased Veteran; Blind; Totally Disabled; Motor Vehicle of a Serviceman or Servicewoman (active duty); Farmers / Merchants, Forest and Open Space. For details about these exemptions, or if you think you may qualify, contact the Assessor's Office at (860) 826-3323. Veterans' & other exemptions, if any, appear in the total exemptions ("exempt") box on your tax bill. Q: Are there any tax benefits for senior citizens? A: Yes! If you or your spouse are age 65 or older, permanently reside in New Britain (legal residence), and own your own home, and meet certain income restrictions, you may be eligible for one or more forms of city or state financed property tax credits and/or tax deferral. To inquire about eligibility, or for information about these programs, contact the Assessor's Office at (860) 826-3323. You may also inquire in person at the Assessor's Office, Room 108 at City Hall. If you are a renter and meet certain income restrictions, you may qualify for another type of program. Please contact the Community Services Office, located here in City Hall, 3 rd Floor to find out. Their telephone: (860) 826-3366. Property Revaluation Q: How has the revaluation affected my tax bill? A: Please contact the Assessor's Office at (860) 826-3323 for more information. Key Contact Information Tax Collector's Office Telephone; 860-826-3317 Fax: 860-612-4206 Tax Assessor's Office Telephone: 860-826-3323 Fax: 860-612-5013 Questions about tax billings, delinquent taxes, amounts paid, interest charged and motor vehicle releases should be directed to the Tax Collector's Office. Questions about assessed value, adjustments, exemptions, credits, tax relief programs, motor vehicle credits, revaluation and vehicle adjustments should be directed to the Tax Assessor's Office.