Q. I have recently purchased property. What are my responsibilities as far as taxes are concerned?
A. Your annual tax bill is mailed twice a year and is due in two equal installments. For FY08, taxes are due on September 14, 2007 and March 14, 2008. Depending on when the change of ownership is placed on the tax roll, the tax bill will be sent to either the previous owner or to you. If you have not received a tax bill by the first of August or the first of February, please contact our office so that we may mail your bill. Please also contact the Assessor’s office to change the mailing address.
Interest will begin to accrue on delinquent taxes on September 15, 2007 and March 15, 2008. The Office of the Treasurer and Tax Collector cannot excuse penalties for late payments even if you did not receive a bill.
Q. When are annual tax bills mailed?
A. Tax bills are mailed on or before August 1st and February 1st each year. If you do not receive either of these bills, you should request one by contacting the Treasury office at (207) 874-8490.
A copy of your tax bill may also be obtained in person from the Treasury office, located in Room 102 at City Hall.
It is your responsibility to obtain your tax bill. Failure to receive a bill through the mail does not provide a basis for waiving penalties for late payment.
Q. When are supplemental tax bills mailed?
A. Supplemental tax bills are mailed throughout the year. For information on supplemental tax bills and delinquency dates, please contact the Assessor’s office at (207) 874-8486.
Q. Will I receive a tax bill if I pay my taxes through an escrow account?
A. If your taxes are paid through an escrow account (i.e., included with your mortgage payment), you will still receive your two tax bills. These are sent to you for record keeping purposes. Supplementary tax bills are not sent to your lender, but are mailed directly to you. It is your responsibility to contact your lender to determine who will pay the supplemental tax bill.
Q. What does my annual property tax bill tell me?
A. The annual property tax bill identifies the following:
Q. Where can I pay my taxes?
A. You can pay your taxes in person at Room 102 in City Hall, or use the blue return envelope included with your tax bill. Treasury Office hours are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Q. What happens if I fail to pay my taxes on time?
A. If you do not pay your first installment by September 14, 2007 interest will start to accrue at the rate of 12% per annum. If the second installment is not paid by March 14, 2008, interest will start to accrue at the rate of 12% per annum. If any portion of your FY'08 tax bill remains unpaid by noon on June 9, 2008 a lien will be placed on your property, resulting in additional costs.
If you fail to pay the installments of your supplemental tax bill by the applicable delinquency dates, the same penalties accrue as for delinquent annual taxes, and the lien date may be different from June 9, 2008.
Q. Are exemptions and assistance programs available to property owners to help defray the amount of taxes due?
A. Yes. Through the Assessor’s office you may apply for the Homestead exemption, the blind exemption, and the veteran’s exemption. These programs reduce the assessed value of your property, resulting in a tax savings to you. For more information, contact the Assessor’s Office at (207) 874-8486.
In addition, the State of Maine administers a Property Tax Refund program (Circuit Breaker), which is income based. For more information, call (207) 626-8475. For applications, call (207) 624-7894, or download by going online at http://www.maine.gov/revenue/taxrelief/tnr.htm