Property tax deadline looms in town
Because of the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic, the state allowed municipalities to provide payment relief to residents when it came to property taxes.
GREENWICH — As a threemonth extension nears an end, Greenwich residents are once again facing a deadline to get in their town property tax payments.
Yearly tax payments on properties and/or vehicles must be submitted by the end of business on Thursday, Oct. 1, or interest penalties will be added to the bill.
Residents can pay online or by mail, but the envelope must be postmarked no later than Oct. 1 to avoid the penalty.
“Residents have really stepped up to the plate, and they’ve been paying,” town Tax Collector Heather Smeriglio said Monday. “This is the money that runs the town.”
The penalty for a late payment is significant — 6 percent interest will be added to any bill not paid by Oct. 2, Smeriglio said. That is the collective interest from July, August, September and October, she said.
Each month, another 1.5 percent interest will be added, she said.
The payment date for property taxes is usually July 1, with a payment deadline of Aug. 1. But because of the eco
nomic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic, the state allowed municipalities to provide payment relief to residents when it came to property taxes.
At Smeriglio’s recommendation, the Representative Town Meeting overwhelmingly approved the addition of a grace period for payments, extending the Aug. 3 deadline to Oct. 1. However, it is not an amnesty program, and
each resident must pay their entire property tax bill.
On Monday, Smeriglio said the program has been a success.
“Many people have thanked our office because it made such a difference to have that extra time to get money together and pay the bill,” she said. “That’s really been a godsend.”
Most residents made their payments during the traditional period over the summer. A preliminary report shows that nearly 73 percent of taxpayers got
their payments in before Aug. 3, she said.
“It seems like people have been paying steadily over the weeks,” Smeriglio said. “It’s been like an even flow. This week, obviously it’s building up because of the last day on Thursday. ... The phone has been ringing off the hook, and between Friday and (Monday), we had about a $1.5 million that came in through online payment. That’s ramping up, too.”
Online payments can be made at the Tax Collector’s section of the town website
at www.greenwichct.gov.
The town accepts personal checks, cashier’s checks and money orders. Smeriglio recommends that residents take their tax payment envelopes directly to the Post Office to be postmarked to be certain it is marked by Oct. 1.
Town Hall remains closed to the public due to the coronavirus. But residents who want to pay in person should call 203-6227891 to make an appointment to hand over their payment. Or residents can go to Town Hall during business hours, call the department from outside the front door and an employee will come outside to meet them.
“Some people are panicking and I’m telling them they don’t have to panic,” Smeriglio said. “If you don’t have a computer or are unsure about doing online payments you can just come down and we’ll get your payment from you.”
Anyone with questions should call 203-622-7891, she said.
“Some people call and they can be really frazzled so we’re here to help them,” said Smeriglio, who said many residents have questions about paying in person.
“When we give them the option of coming here to Town Hall, they are so relieved,” she said. “People are worried their payments aren’t going to get in on time. And when someone can meet them at the door and take their payment, it gives them peace of mind. We are mailing receipts to people who want them.”