Consider paying your 2018 town/county tax bill now if you can
BY ERIKA NORTON
Unlike other counties, Orange County residents can pay their 2018 county and town property taxes before the Congressionally approved federal tax revisions go into effect on Jan. 1, which could help some taxpayers save money — at least next year.
The tax plan, proposed by Republicans and approved by both chambers of Congress on Wednesday, is headed to President Donald Trump’s desk for final approval. One of the new provisions will allow households to deduct no more than $10,000 in combined state income taxes and property taxes on their federal tax returns, a cap that will likely hit high-tax states like New York harder than others.
Lawmakers anticipated taxpayers rushing to beat the new deduction limit for state and local taxes and added a provision specifically prohibiting prepaying 2018 state income taxes to claim them on 2017 tax bills. But it said nothing about paying 2018 property taxes in 2017 — a loophole many Orange County homeowners are looking to take advantage of.
New Yorkers can’t pay their town and county tax bills before town and city tax collectors are authorized to start accepting payments, called the county “warrant date.” Unlike some counties in the area, the warrant date in Orange County is Dec. 27, allowing residents five days to pay before Jan. 1, when the cap goes into effect.
However, only Orange County homeowners who live in a town or city can take advantage of this loophole, because village taxes are paid later in the year. It does also not apply to school taxes either, since those are also paid later in the year.
Many Orange County towns post tax bills online and let residents pay them online with a credit card for a fee. The municipalities who accept online payments are listed on a statewide list at www.egov.basgov.com.
Here’s how county residents who live in a town can pay early in each municipality:
Blooming GroveThe tax office has indicated it’s getting many telephone inquiries. Since tax bills won’t be mailed until next week, call 496-5223, and press 3 to find out what your bill is.
Note: Town offices are closed on Dec. 26 as a floating holiday and are closing early on Dec. 29. If you want to prepay your 2018 town/county bill, call the office and it will pull your bill to advise you of the amount. The earliest you can pay the bill is the warrant date of Dec. 27. It’s suggested for people to stop by in person to pay the bill, with a request to date the check for Dec. 30, 2017. The payment will be reflected to have been paid in 2017 and the receipt will be mailed the following week.
MonroeThe 2018 Property Taxes Bills will be available on Dec. 27 at 12 p.m. (noon), at which time payments will be accepted for anyone wishing to have their payment posted to 2017.
Residents wishing to mail in their payment should make sure it is postmarked no later than Dec. 31, 2017 for payment to be applied to 2017.
To pay online, log onto www.monroeny.org, scroll all the way down, on right click on “Pay Bill online” and click on “Tax Payments.”
Office hours are: Dec. 27 from 12 p.m. - 4 p.m., Dec. 28 and 29 from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
TuxedoThe 2018 Tax bills are expected to be available by Dec. 27, 2017
Tax payments should be mailed to Tuxedo Town Hall, One Temple Drive, Tuxedo, N.Y. 10987 attention Tuxedo Tax Collector.
The early payment schedule will be released once the tax warrant has been issued.
Tax bills are available online at https://egov.basgov.com/tuxedo/
WoodburyAccording to the Woodbury tax collector’s office, they are accepting 2018 town and county tax payments before Dec. 31. If someone is interested in paying their bill in December, Woodbury homeowners are asked to call the (845) 928-6062 and leave their name, their section, block, and lot or street address, and a cell phone or home number that can be used in the evening. Tax bills are also available online at https://egov.basgov.com/woodbury/
WarwickAccording to the Warwick tax department, they are collecting 2018 town and county tax payments before Dec. 31 if people wish to pay. They will put them aside and stamp them “2017”. The bills will hopefully be posted online on Dec. 27.
Tax bills are available online at https://egov.basgov.com/warwick/
Nancy Kriz contributed to this story.