FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. When are taxes due?
    Property taxes are due by January 31st without penalty. School taxes are due by September 30th without penalty. Payments can be made upon receipt of bill through due dates without incurring a penalty fee. After the specified due dates a penalty fee will be applied.
     
  2. How are School taxes determined
    The school tax rate is determined directly by the Carmel School District and inquiries about these taxes and school budgets should be made directly to the School District.
     
  3. How are Property Taxes determined
    The typical town property tax bill contains many components. In addition to the town property tax, your bill may include taxes and fees collected to pay for other services unique to your area. Some residents belong to a park district which funds the Lakes, fire district to fund the Lake Carmel Fire Dept. and Kent Fire District or a sanitation district to fund garbage and recycling pickups.

    Kent town tax rates are determined by the Kent Town Board. The town budget is the subject of public meetings usually held at the end of each year. The specific dates for these meetings can be found on the Town Board calendar, which can be reached via a link on the Town Board webpage. The final budget document is also available via a link that can be found on the Town Board webpage.
     
  4. I never received my bill, or received it late, do I still have to pay the penalty?
    Yes, the failure to mail a statement or the failure of a property owner to receive a statement will not affect the validity of the taxes or interest prescribed by law (New York State Real Property Tax Law §922). In addition, neither the Receiver of Taxes nor any other official has legal authority to waive statutory penalty charges. These are fixed by the Real Property Tax Law. If they are waived, the collecting officer will be personally responsible. As all records are audited by State examiners, there is absolutely no discretion in this matter. The Constitution and the law of the State mandates the procedure.
     
  5. If I mail my payment on the due date do I have to pay a penalty?
    New York State Real Property Tax Law §925, provides as follows: "Payment of  taxes by mail, when enclosed in a postpaid wrapper (envelope) properly addressed to the appropriate collecting officer and is deposited in a post office or official depository under the exclusive care and custody of the United States Post Office shall, upon delivery, be deemed to have been made to such officer on the date of the United States Postmark on such wrapper. The provisions of this section shall not apply in the case of postmarks not made by the United States Post Office. A postage meter postmark is not a postmark made by the United States Post Office and, therefore, is not within in the provisions of Real Property Tax Law §925. Payments can not be deemed timely because of a postage meter postmark date on an envelope containing a tax payment (Op. New York State Comp. 69-170).
     
  6. Can I pay my taxes in installments?
    The Town of Kent and Carmel Central School District do accept partial payments. However there will be penalty fees included as follows.                                                                                 

    Property Taxes
    ½ payment by January 30th                      - No Penalty
    2nd half payable Feb-July 31st                  -1% Penalty per month           

    School Taxes
    First ½ payment plus 4% interest by Sept 15th
    ½ payment plus 4% interest by March 15th
    (payable to The Putnam County Commissioner of Finance).

    Half Payments must be made no later than September 15th
    A $10 fee will be charged for returned checks.
     
  7. Can I pre-pay my taxes?
    No, the warrant constitutes the mantle of authority for the collecting officer to receive the taxes. Therefore, the warrant must be regarded as the instrument which empowers the collecting officer to begin the collection. Collection authority can not begin prior to the date of the warrant.
     
  8. Mortgages
    Some mortgages include an escrow account for payment of taxes. If a property owner satisfies a mortgage during the year, the property owner should notify the Tax Receiver where to send the bill. The bank will not forward a tax bill to the property owner after the mortgage has been satisfied. The owner will be liable for the penalty and interest even if the bank did not forward a bill.
     
  9. Change of Address
    Is is the responsibility of the property owner to notify the Assessor when he/she has a change of mailing address.