Tax Collector

NOTE: COUNTY/TOWN TAXES ONLY -

SCHOOL TAX PAYMENTS ARE NOT ACCEPTED AT THIS OFFICE.

Click here to find copies of tax bills

Alison Barron

TAX PAYMENTS WILL BE DUE BY FEBRUARY 1, 2021. The bills were printed with an INCORRECT due date.

Tax Collector's office hours begin January 2, 2021. For your safety and ours, we recommend making your tax payment by mail.

Tax Collector's office hours:

JANUARY - Mondays and Thursdays 6 pm - 8 pm; Saturdays 9 am - 12 Noon.
FEBRUARY - Saturdays only 9am - 12 Noon
MARCH - Saturdays only 9 am - 12 Noon

YOU CAN REACH THE TAX COLLECTOR VIA EMAIL: taxcollector@townofspafford.com

Phone Messages may be left with the Town Clerk at 315-673-4144

COUNTY/TOWN TAX PAYMENTS MAY BE DROPPED OFF AT THE TOWN HALL DURING OFFICE HOURS,

BUT ONLY THE TAX COLLECTOR CAN ISSUE A RECEIPT FOR PAYMENT.

IF YOU ELECT TO DROP OFF YOUR PAYMENT WHEN THE TAX COLLECTOR IS NOT IN THE OFFICE,

REMEMBER TO CHECK THE BOX ON THE BILL FOR THE RECEIPT TO BE MAILED TO YOU.

QUESTIONS REGARDING SCHOOL TAXES SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE SCHOOL'S DISTRICT OFFICE.

After April 1st, payment of County/Town taxes MUST be made directly to Onondaga County

Onondaga County Dept. of Finance

Revenue and Tax Collection Unit

P.O. Box 1004

Syracuse, NY 13201-1004

Onondaga County Finance Office: 315-435-2426

Questions about EXEMPTIONS should be directed to the Town Assessor, Jeff Lowe

After April 1st, checks are payable to "Chief Fiscal Officer" and
must be mailed to:

Onondaga County Dept. of Finance

Revenue and Tax Collection Unit

P.O. Box 1004

Syracuse, NY 13201-1004

Walk in Payments after April 1st:

Onondaga County Dept. of Finance

John H. Mulroy Civic Center - 15th Fl.

421 Montgomery Street

Syracuse, NY

TAX NOTICES

The Town/County Tax Bills are mailed out at the end of December to property owners without escrow accounts. If your property is in escrow, the bill is sent to your financial institution.

If you should have received a bill and did not, please contact the Tax Collector to correct the information. Copies of the tax bill can be downloaded/viewed/printed from Onondaga County's website.

Tax bills are payable from January 1 through January 31 without penalty. The Real Property Tax Law prohibits the waiver of a late fee, even if the property owner did not receive their tax bill.

PENALTIES FOR LATE PAYMENTS

The following penalty schedule is shown on the tax bill:

February 1 - February 28.... 1%

March 1 - March 15.... 1.5%

If taxes are not paid in full by March 15th, a Second Notice of Taxes Due is sent. an additional charge of $1.00 will be levied and become a part of the amount due.

March 16 - March 31.... 1.5% plus

$1.00

SCHOOL TAXES

School tax bills are collected by the School District's Tax Office. The Town of Spafford Tax Collector does not accept school tax payments. These tax bills are mailed to you in early September by the school's Tax Office. Contact information for your SCHOOL TAX BILL:

Homer........607-749-7241

Marcellus....315-673-3269 ext. 6

Skaneateles....315-291-2298

Tully........315-696-6200

FAQ'S

HOW EARLY CAN I PAY MY BILL?

Collection of taxes cannot begin prior to the date of the Tax Warrant. 'The warrant must be regarded as the instrument which empowers the collecting officer to begin the collection.'

Onondaga County strives to sign the warrant in the last week of December to allow property owners the opportunity to pre-pay in the current year.

Payments may be made in person, by check or cash, to the Town of Spafford Tax Collector at the Spafford Town Hall during the hours listed on the tax bill. Credit card payments are not accepted. Please do not send cash through the mail.

Checks should be made payable to: "TAX COLLECTOR"

NOTE: After April 1, payment MUST BE MADE DIRECTLY TO ONONDAGA COUNTY, not the Town of Spafford.

I NEVER RECEIVED MY BILL, OR I RECEIVED IT LATE, DO I STILL HAVE TO PAY THE PENALTY?

If you did not receive a bill, or received it late, you are still responsible for payment of late penalties. New York State Real Property Tax Law 922 states the failure to mail a statement or the failure of the property owner to receive a statement will not affect the validity of the taxes or interest prescribed by law. Neither the Tax Collector, nor any other Official has legal authority to waive statutory penalty charges. These are fixed by the Real Property Tax Law. There must be no exceptions.