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ONLINE TAX INFORMATION
Use the "view bills online" link to access the City of West Haven database. The city has upgraded the tax department's software system to allow the public to easily view tax information. The database is updated on a daily basis. During the collection cycles, of July and January, your payment will not show until it is processed. As a result the web page will reflect interest until it is posted. Extra time is needed, during the collection cycles, to process the high volume of mail. If your payment was postmarked or dropped off on time you do not incur interest for the additional processing time. This database can also be used for retrieving a tax payment history for federal filing. If you print your tax bill(s) from the online database, to send with payment, please do not mail to the Hartford address. Send payment to Tax Collector, PO Box 401, West Haven, CT 06516.
NOTICE TO TAXPAYERS
As owners of property taxpayers are ultimately responsible to make sure taxes are paid when due. Failure to receive a bill does not exempt taxpayer from payment of all taxes, interest, liens and collection fees as per CT Gen. Stat. 12-130 and 12-146. For each grand list year the last on-time payment date for the first installment is August 1. The last on-time payment date for the second installment and supplemental bills is February 1. The only exception to this rule is if the last day falls on a Saturday, Sunday or Holiday in which case it is moved to the next business day. Late payments are determined by official US postmark. Payments postmarked or dropped off on time do not accrue interest if processed after deadline. Late payments are subject to interest at the rate of 1 1/2 % per month, 18% per annum, minimum interest is $2.00, from the due date as required by CT Gen. Stat. 12-130, 12-145 and 12-146.
The city mails only one tax bill per year for each motor vehicle, real estate and sewer, and personal property on its grand list. The bottom coupon is used for the first installment, the middle coupon for the second installment and the top coupon for your records.
All motor vehicle license plates no longer in use must be returned to the Department of Motor Vehicles immediately. Make sure you get a plate cancellation receipt and promptly return it to the assessor's office. The Department of Motor Vehicles must be notified of a change of address within 48 hours.
If you received a tax bill for real estate or personal property that was bought/sold and are not sure whether you are responsible please contact your closing attorney. If you want to question the assessed value of your property please contact the assessor's office (203-937-3515) immediately upon receipt of tax bill.
TAXSERV CAPITAL SERVICES, LLC
The City of West Haven Tax Collector has placed motor vehicle tax debts with TaxServ Capital Services, LLC (“TaxServ”) for collection. TaxServ is a debt collector.You are personally liable for the taxes assessed in your name. [See C.G.S. 12-161.] You must take immediate steps to pay your taxes. As a result of your delinquency, a 13.5% collection agency fee has been added to the taxes you owe. [See C.G.S. 12-166 and 36a-805(a)(13).] Interest will continue to accrue on the unpaid principal balance of your tax debt at the rate of 1.5% per month until paid in full. [See C.G.S. 12-146]. Payment on accounts placed with TaxServ can be made at the tax office.
Any questions or disputes contact TaxServ Capital Services, LLC at 1-866-497-2427
DELINQUENT NOTICES
The City of West Haven mails delinquent notices, after each payment cycle, for past due taxes. Please pay by the "good through" date printed on the bill. Additional interest is applied after this date. The notices are generated and printed within a specific time period which is also stated on the bill. If you paid within this time period you will still receive a notice since the data was already collected. Please make sure tax bills are paid before discarding. Delinquent notices are not intended as demand for any debts that have been discharged in bankruptcy or subject to an automatic stay. It is not intended as a demand for payment of taxes for which an appeal is pending under Section 12-117a of the CT General Statutes. Questions on property you no longer own should be directed to the assessor's office. If you received a delinquent notice in error we apologize for the inconvenience.
LIEN ASSIGNMENTS
The City of West Haven has assigned real estate tax and sewer use liens to one of three companies; Caz Creek IV, LP, Tower Capital Management or American Tax Funding LLC. A lien assignment means your tax obligation, for a specific delinquent grand list year(s), must be paid directly to the assigned company and not the City of West Haven. In the event your lien was assigned please contact the appropriate company: for Caz Creek IV please contact MTAG Services, LLC at 866-511-3868 or visit www.taxliensupport.com, for American Tax Funding please call 888-289-8297 or visit www.atfs.com, for Tower Capital please call 1-800-830-5485. Any questions please call the tax office.
SUPPLEMENTAL MOTOR VEHICLE TAX BILL
Vehicles registered between October 2 and the following July 31 will appear on a "supplemental motor vehicle list" provided to the tax assessor by the DMV. The assessed value of each "supplemental" vehicle is prorated based upon the month of registration. If you transferred the license plates from your previous vehicle, to the new vehicle, you still pay the entire bill on your previous vehicle. You then receive a credit on the supplemental bill, or new vehicle, based on the total taxes billed on the original vehicle. If you do not transfer plates you must cancel the "old" plates and immediately report the cancellation to the tax assessor's office via a plate receipt.
PAYMENT BY US MAIL
A pre-addressed return envelope, with a Hartford P.O. Box, is enclosed for your convenience. This address represents the city's lockbox service. Please mail the exact amount along with your tax bill.The lockbox service is setup to process only the current grand list year. The service will not return a paid receipt. The service will not process payments without a physical tax bill. If your tax bill has "Delinquent Taxes Due" printed on it, or you are sending payment through online banking service, please do not mail payment to Hartford. Send payment directly to the tax office at the address below. Please include a coupon with your payment and use only black or blue ink on your check. Please be advised that the lockbox service is only available during the month of July and January. All payments made after the deadline (see Notice to Taxpayer) should be addressed to; Tax Collector, City of West Haven, P.O. Box 401, West Haven, CT 06516. For DMV clearance we recommend making payment at the tax office. Please use cash, bank check money order or credit card (convenience fee applies).
PAYMENT AT TAX OFFICE
The tax office makes every effort to process payments as quickly as possible. During the collection periods we experience heavy volume. We appreciate your patience. Each payment must be checked and verified before entering into the system. Please have your tax bill and payment ready in order to quickly facilitate transaction. We ask that if you have more than ten tax bills to please leave them for processing after business hours. Doors to public are open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM and 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM on Friday. The tax office does not close for lunch.
ONLINE CREDIT/DEBIT CARD PAYMENTS
Official Payments Corporation ( www.officialpayments.com) can be used to make credit or debit card payments. Begin by selecting local payment then follow on-site instructions. Enter tax bills one at a time under the appropriate category. Always enter the name printed on the tax bill. Please enter the correct amount due and bill (list) number when making payments. Print a receipt for each transaction. Both current and back taxes can be paid online. The tax office will not send paid receipts for online transactions. Official Payments charges a 2.75% convenience fee per transaction. If you need a tax clearance, for DMV registration, we recommend paying at the tax office. Tax clearances cannot be mailed. Do not mail credit card information to the tax office.
ONLINE BANK PAYMENTS
When paying tax bills through an online banking service please provide enough information, in the memo section, to ensure your payment is processed. Depending on the type of tax bill; real estate, motor vehicle or personal property the following information is very helpful: name printed on the tax bill, bill number(s) with grand list year, license plate number (not vin number), property address or company name. Please do not mail these types of payments to the Hartford address. All online banking payments should be sent to Tax Collector, PO Box 401, West Haven, CT 06516.
PAYMENTS BY PHONE
Payments may be made by phone at 1-800-272-9829.You will be required to reference the City of West Haven jurisdiction code (1762). Have your tax bill number and credit card information available. Please take down the confirmation number as proof of payment. Official Payments charges a 2.75% convenience fee per transaction. If you need a tax clearance, for DMV registration, we recommend paying at the tax office.
MAIL-SLOT/DROP-BOX PAYMENTS
A mail slot is located inside City Hall, outside of the tax office, for your convenience. The mail slot is accessible during City Hall’s hours of operation from 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Acceptable forms of payment, for the mail slot, are check or money order only please do not leave cash or credit/debit card information. These payments are processed in the tax office in the order in which they are received. During the collection cycles, due to the large quantity, some of these payments may be sent to our lockbox service. The tax office makes every effort to process these payments as quickly as possible. If you drop off your payment on time and the tax office processes your payment at a later date you do not get charged interest. Please use only blue or black ink on your checks and put your name on the outside of the envelope.
DISCREPANCIES
The tax office will look into any discrepancies or concerns regarding tax payments. If you would like to schedule an appointment please call in advance. During the collection cycles some issues may need additional time to research and cannot be handled at the cashier window. Please have appropriate documentation i.e. receipts, bank statements, cancelled checks, etc. in order to help facilitate any possible adjustment. Waiving of interest is prohibited by state law.
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