TAX COLLECTION OFFICE

• PROPERTY TAX BILLS - HOW & WHEN TO PAY

Property Tax bills are mailed out ONCE a year, usually in mid-July and cover four quarterly payments. The bill mailed in July includes the 3rd and 4th quarters of the current year and the preliminary 1st and 2nd quarters of the next year.

Payments are due quarterly: February 1, May 1, August 1 and November 1. (See Late Payment heading for information on our grace period.)

You can pay by MAIL or in PERSON using check or cash:

Mail: Send your check with the appropriate stub from the bill to:

Borough of New Providence, 360 Elkwood Ave., New Providence, NJ 07974, Attn: Tax Collector.

**A receipt will be provided only if you include a stamped self-addressed return envelope.

In Person: Bring check or cash with appropriate stub to Municipal Center, Second Floor.

PLEASE DO NOT POSTDATE YOUR CHECK. Postdated checks will be returned to your billing address unprocessed. We are required by State law to deposit payments within 48 hours and, therefore, cannot hold postdated checks. Additionally, the bank has the right to return postdated checks.

Please keep your tax bill in a safe place for future reference. We DO NOT send year-end payment statements for tax purposes. This information should be obtained from your tax bill or your own personal records.

• LATE PAYMENTS

We offer a 10-day grace, period which is the maximum allowed by State law. If the 10 th falls on a weekend or a Borough holiday, the grace period is extended to the next Borough business day. If your payment is received in our office after the grace period has ended, your payment will be subject to a late interest penalty. Envelope postmark is not accepted. Interest on late payments is calculated back to the original due date at the rate of 8% per annum up to $1500 and 18% per annum over $1500 until the account is brought current. Late notices are mailed quarterly as soon as possible after the 10-day grace period has ended.

• NJ PROPERTY TAX REBATE PROGRAMS

The State of New Jersey has instituted several rebate programs regarding property taxes:

1. Property Tax Reimbursement Program (a.k.a. Senior Freeze) which also applies to those under 65 receiving Federal Social Security disability regardless of age.
2. Fair Rebate (effective 2004 combines the Homestead rebate and NJ Saver rebate programs)
3. Property Tax Deduction/Credit

To view complete details on these programs from the State of NJ web site click on the following link: http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation

The State also offers a $250 yearly senior citizen deduction and a $250 yearly veteran’s deduction. For more information on these programs please visit our Assessor’s Department page.

• NEW HOMEOWNERS

Since tax bills are only printed once a year, we try to mail duplicate bills to new homeowners as a courtesy. However, since this is a manual process and we have a limited staff, it is ultimately the homeowner’s responsibility to obtain this information if the bill was not transferred at their closing. You can also call and obtain payment information by telephone.

• ADDED ASSESSMENT BILLS

If you make improvements to your house, it might generate an added assessment bill in October after the regular bill has been mailed. The homeowner will then have two payments due for the 4th quarter of the current year and the 1st & 2nd quarters of the following year. If you have questions as to why this bill was generated, you should contact the Assessor’s Office.

If a mortgage company is paying your taxes AND our records reflect this relationship, they will receive a copy of this additional bill. However, not all mortgage companies will pay the added assessment. It is ultimately the homeowner’s responsibility to find out if their mortgage company will pay or if they must submit payment on their own.

• HOMEOWNERS PAYING THROUGH THEIR MORTGAGE

If you have made arrangements for a mortgage company to pay your taxes, they are required to send us a tax authorization notice indicating that they should receive your original tax bill information. The homeowner will receive an exact duplicate (advise copy) of the tax bill, which will include the payment coupons. Please keep this bill in a safe place. Should you terminate your escrow relationship with your bank, you will use this bill to pay future taxes. We have no way of knowing that an escrow relationship has ended unless we are notified by you or the bank.

Please also see the section on Added Assessment bills, since not all mortgage companies pay these additional bills.

• FEE SCHEDULE

Duplicate Tax Bill     $5.00

Account History             .75 per page

Account Statement       .75 per page