City offers pandemic tax relief programs

NEW HAVEN — The city is offering a tax deferment program for residents who have been significantly financially affected by the coronavirus pandemic, and cutting interest charges for past due payments.

City spokesman Gage Frank announced the effort, as well as a separate lowinterest program for all city residents, in a release Wednesday night. He said the Board of Alders approved both programs, allowed for in an executive order from Gov. Ned Lamont, on April 20.

Frank said residents who qualify for the tax deferment program can push back “their payment deadline 90 days from the initial due date,” which will delay the last day to pay the July 1 tax installment until Oct. 1. After that point, the balance will accrue interest at 6 percent, Frank said.

“Eligible taxpayers, businesses,

Frank said residents who qualify for the tax deferment program can push back “their payment deadline 90 days from the initial due date,” which will delay the last day to pay the July 1 tax installment until Oct. 1

nonprofits, and residents are those that ‘attest to or document significant economic impact by COVID-19,’ and / or those that document they are providing relief to others who have been significantly affected by COVID-19,” Frank said in the release.

Frank said residents who have seen their household income fall by 20 percent because of some combination of furlough, reduction in hours or loss of job since April 1 will be eligible for the program.

Businesses expected to see revenue fall at least 30 percent between April and June and landlords who “suffer a significant revenue decline” or offered “commensurate forbearance” to their tenants also are eligible for a deferment, Frank said.

Frank said “(a)pplications for the Tax Deferment Program must be received by the Office of Management and Budget and Office of Assessors by June 30, 2020, via mail or online application” and noted that questions can be emailed to TaxDeferral@newhavenct.gov or dealt with by calling 203-887-1060.

The city also is cutting interest rates on delinquent or past due bills as part of a low-interest program open to all city residents, Frank said.

“Interest is normally charged at a rate of 1.5% per month, 18% per year from the due date of the tax, with a portion of a month being considered a full month. This Low-Interest program provides a ‘window’ of three months from April 1, 2020, through July 1, 2020, from the due date where taxpayers would be able to pay at a reduced interest rate on past due taxes,” Frank said. “The LowInterest Program would automatically reduce the interest rate for a threemonth window to 0.25% per month ... (or 3 percent per year) for all taxpayers owing taxes and charges.”