A ten day grace period to the 10th of the due month is allowed by resolution by the Mayor and Council after which time interest is retroactively charged from the first day of the month in which taxes are due. State statute requires any taxes remaining unpaid be subject to interest at the rate of 8% per annum on the outstanding balance up to $1500 and 18% per annum on the balance over $1500. An additional penalty of 6% is charged on any single year's delinquency if the total due (including principal and interest) at the end of that calendar year is more than $10,000.
Postmark is not recognized by the tax collector's office. The payment must be in the hand of the Collector by close of business on the last day of a grace. Please note that the due date does not change, the due date remains constant but rather the grace period is an interest free period - the 10th day of grace is not the due date. Any interest that is due then is paid first and the balance is applied to the most delinquent tax bill.
You can pay your tax bill by mail with a check or in person using a check or cash. Send your check with the appropriate stub from the bill to 50 Washington Avenue, Dumont, NJ 07628. Please remember that a receipt will be provided only if you send or bring the entire bill (this means the upper portion of the bill as well as the stub). The appropriate stub will be retained by the office, the back of the upper portion of the bill will be validated and the entire bill will then be returned to you. If you mail your payment and would like a receipt mailed to you, include a self-addressed stamped envelope with your payment and bill. Otherwise, no other receipt will be provided. Your record of the cancelled check will be the only receipt.
New owners should call the tax office for the necessary property tax information. In this state, once you own property it becomes your complete responsibility (100%) to ascertain when taxes are due and the amount. If the seller has not passed the current bill to you at closing you should call as soon as possible to ascertain what your tax situation is. Whether you are a new or an old owner, according to state law, not receiving a bill does not exempt a property owner from payment of taxes or being charged interest if the bill becomes delinquent. Do not wait to receive a bill, you must be proactive and obtain the information you need well in advance of the due date. The first notification that you will receive from the collector's office regarding each quarter's payment is a delinquent notice if the tax is still unpaid at the end of the grace period.