RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PROPERTY OWNER

PAYMENT OF TAXES - The tax laws in Suffolk County state that payment of taxes on a timely basis is the responsibility of the property owner even if a tax bill has not been received. The property owner will be liable for all penalties and interest on late payments.

As tax bills are sent out in December for the tax year commencing on December 1. Any person who purchases property in Suffolk County during the year should determine if any taxes remain unpaid on the property and, if the taxes remain unpaid, please contact the Receiver's Office to determine the amount due.

TAX YEAR

Town, School, and County Taxes in Suffolk County cover the period from December 1st to November 30th of the following year.

PAYMENTS

Please include payment stub(s) with your remittance.  Make checks payable to and mail payments to: George R. Sullivan, Receiver of Taxes, P.O. Box 1409, Southold, NY 11971-0499.

FIRST HALF PAYMENT

The Assessment Roll of the Town of Southold, County of Suffolk for 2011/2012 upon which this assessment appears, will be delivered on or about the first day of December, 2011. Taxes are due December 1^st, 2011, first half payable until and including January 10^th, 2012 without penalty. 

 SCHEDULE OF PENALTY ON FIRST-HALF TAX ONLY

PAYMENT PERIOD

PENALTY

DECEMBER  1ST THROUGH JANUARY 10TH

NO PENALTY

JANUARY 11TH THROUGH FEBRUARY 10TH

1%PENALTY

FEBRUARY 11TH THROUGH MARCH 10TH

2% PENALTY

MARCH 11TH THROUGH APRIL 10TH

3% PENALTY

APRIL 11TH THROUGH MAY 10TH

4% PENALTY

MAY 11TH THROUGH MAY 31ST

5% PENALTY

SECOND HALF PAYMENT

Second Half is to be paid without penalty until May 31, 2012.  After this date,  all payments must be paid to the Suffolk County Treasurer, 330 Center Drive, Riverhead, New York 11901-3311, telephone 631-852-3000, plus penalty of 5% on total unpaid tax and a penalty at the rate of 1% per month or part thereof from February 1^st. A $20.00 tax sale advertising charge per item will be included after August 31^st.

PARTIAL PAYMENTS

A partial payment of real property taxes will be accepted in accordance with Suffolk County Resolution #551-2002 however, if the full first half is not received by January 10, 2012, the appropriate penalty will be charged on the unpaid balance of the first half only.

PAYMENTS BY MAIL

If taxes are paid by mail, pursuant to Real Property Tax Law 925, you will avoid penalty and interest charges if the payment envelope bears proper postage and an official post office date stamp (a private meter stamp is not acceptable) dated no later than the last due date.  NO CASH BY MAIL. NO THIRD PARTY CHECKS or POSTDATED CHECKS.

WALK-IN PAYMENTS

In addition to receiving taxes at Town Hall, we have designated several bank branches throughout the Town to accept payments and give receipts for taxpayers wishing to walk in and make payments. Payments may be made during the First Half collection period through January 10^th and begins again for the Second Half collection period on May 1 through the close of collections on May 31. From January 11 through April 30, payments cannot be accepted at the banks.

Payments must be submitted with payment stubs and can be made during regular bank business hours at the following branch locations: 

• Bridgehampton National Bank – Mattituck, Southold, and Greenport branches.

• Capital One – Mattituck, Cutchogue, Southold, and Greenport branches.

• Suffolk County National Bank – Cutchogue and Mattituck branches.

METHOD OF PAYMENT

Taxes are payable by check, cash or money order in the EXACT AMOUNT. Checks will be accepted subject to collection for which this office assumes no responsibility.

RETURN CHECK CHARGE

Taxes paid by check or other written orders are subject to collection.  A charge of $20.00 will be added to any account where a tendered payment was by check or other written order and was returned for insufficient funds.  Returned checks or orders will automatically cancel your tax payment and will not necessarily be redeposited.

THIRD-PARTY NOTICE

If you are either 65 years of age or older, disabled, and you own and occupy a one, two or three family residence, you may designate a consenting adult third-party to receive a copy of your tax bill and any notices of unpaid taxes until notice to the contrary. Applications may be obtained in person from the Receiver of Taxes or by mail. Applications must be filed with the Receiver of Taxes no later than October 1st.

THE TOWN OF SOUTHOLD acts merely as an agent for the collection of school taxes. If you have any questions about your school rates, please contact your school superintendent.

COUNTY TREASURER'S NOTICE

Whenever any real estate tax or assessment levied on the assessment roll shall remain unpaid as of June 1st and unpaid prior to the annual tax lien sale, the tax lien for that parcel shall be sold at the annual tax lien sale in November or December pursuant to Suffolk County Tax Act Sec. 40. After June 1st, the amount of arrears may be obtained from and paid to the Suffolk County Treasurer, 330 Center Drive, Riverhead, New York 11901-3311. For inquiries, call: 631-852-3000. Continued failure to pay all of the taxes levied against the property may result in your loss of the property.

CHANGES OF ADDRESS AND NEW OWNER INFORMATION

Mail changes of address and new owner information to:

Town of Southold Receiver of Taxes

53095 Route 25

P.O. Box 1409

Southold, NY 11971-0499

CHANGE OF ADDRESS

NEW OWNER

All requests must be signed and dated. A current telephone number would be appreciated.  Please note, the Receiver's Office cannot make new owner name changes until the Assessor's Office has received the deed change from Suffolk County.

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