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Finance-Tax Collector

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1. When are taxes due?

Taxes are due July 1 and January 1. If a real estate or personal property tax bill is $100 or less, the full amount is due on July 1. Motor vehicle tax bills are due in full in July, supplemental motor vehicle tax bills are due in full in January. The Norwich Tax Collector cannot accept payment on the July installment until July 1.

2. If I pay my motor vehicle taxes online, can I register or reregister my vehicle right away?

When payments are made online through the City of Norwich website, payments are not immediately reflected.  Our offices will post the transaction the next business day and proof of payment will be able to be viewed after midnight the day of posting.

If you paid in full using the Electronic Check option, clearance with the DMV will happen automatically in 10 business days.  You can request clearance be done manually after 5 full business days with a call to our office.  If you require clearance with the DMV faster than 5 business days, our office will require printed proof that the funds have successfully cleared your account. 

If you paid in full using a Credit or Debit Card, clearance with the DMV will also happen automatically in 10 business days.  You may request clearance be done as soon as the next business day, but only with a call to our office.  Please call (860) 823-3760 if you have further questions or would like to pay by phone.  (See Fee Schedule)

3. How can I pay my tax bill?

Online - you can pay your taxes online by ACH/Electronic Check through your checking or savings account or from a Credit Card or a Debit Card. The following convenience fees apply: Electronic Check - $1.50 per transaction; Credit Cards and Debit Cards - 2.65% per transaction - minimum of $1.50.

By Mail - A return envelope is included with your tax bill. Write the list numbers on your check. Your list numbers are shown on your bill. You may add together all of your bills and write one check including real estate and motor vehicles. If you wish to have a receipt returned to you, please send the entire tax bill and a self-addressed, stamped envelope with your payment. We will not mail your receipt if you fail to include a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Mail payments to: Norwich Tax Collector, 100 Broadway, Norwich, CT 06360. Do not mail cash.

In Person - You may pay by cash, check or credit card at the Tax Collector window on the first floor of City Hall. Also, during the peak collection times in July and January, you may pay your current levy tax bills at branches of PeoplesUnited Bank.

Pay your taxes online

4. What if I did not receive a tax bill?

Connecticut General Statutes Section 12-130 states “…failure to receive any… tax bill shall not invalidate the tax....”

You are not exempt from payment of all taxes and all interest charges. If you own a vehicle or real estate on October 1 of any given year, you should expect a tax bill the following July. If you do not receive a bill for which you are responsible, request a copy from the Tax Collector's office.
If you own real estate in July or January, you are responsible for paying that installment by August 1st and February 1st, respectively, whether or not a bill is received.

5. What do I do if I am delinquent on my taxes and I need to register my car?

If you have outstanding taxes and need to register or renew registration on an existing car, EVERY outstanding tax bill in the relevant name and all co-registrants' names must be paid in full.  Paying off just one registrant's name or trying to pay off one vehicle out of several is not sufficient for clearance with DMV.

6. What property is subject to taxes?

Real Estate: Any land or buildings are considered real estate.

Motor Vehicle: Registered motorized or non-motorized vehicles, (including cars, trucks, trailers and motorcycles) are considered motor vehicles for tax purposes.

Personal Property: Personal property is a general category including business equipment, machinery, furniture and fixtures either owned or leased by business. Unregistered motor vehicles are also taxed as personal property.

7. Are there long tax collection lines at City Hall?

Yes-during the months of July and January. You should expect to wait in line if you plan to pay in person during this period. Lines are longest at lunchtime, and especially as the last day to pay approaches. If you want to avoid waiting in line, consider paying your bill online, by mail, or by paying at a PeoplesUnited Bank branch (if paying current taxes during January and July). When paying in person, bring your entire tax bill with you, and write your list numbers on your check for faster service.

8. What happens if I pay late?

Real estate and personal property taxes are due in two installments for each fiscal year. You have a one-month grace period in which to pay without penalty, either in person or by mail. The first payment is due on July 1 and must be paid by August 1 to avoid interest charges. The second installment is due on January 1 and must be paid by February 1 to avoid interest charges.

In accordance with CGS 12-146, past due payments are subject to interest at the rate of 1½% per month from the due date of the tax, or a $2.00 minimum, whichever is greater. Payments made on or after August 2, including payments postmarked August 2 and later, are considered past due and will incur 3% interest, representing two months' delinquency.

The city is required by law to accept the postmark as the date of payment.

9. My tax bill shows “back taxes due” and I am being charged interest and other fees. What does that mean?

This note means that, according to our records, there are past due taxes in your name, or on the parcel of property in question. Please contact us with questions.

Delinquent taxes and interest must be paid in full before payment on current bills can be accepted. Any payment you send in toward current taxes will be applied to outstanding back taxes.

10. Can the interest on my tax bill be waived?

No. The Tax Collector does not have the authority to waive interest and cannot make exceptions. (CGS 12-146) Property owners are responsible to pay taxes when due.

11. What should I do if I am being improperly billed for a motor vehicle?

Contact the Assessor’s Office. Do not ignore the bill.

You may be entitled to a credit if your vehicle has been: sold, and plates returned to DMV; stolen and not recovered; repossessed; declared a total loss by your insurance company; or, if you have moved from Connecticut and have registered the vehicle out of state.

Contact the Assessor’s Office for information regarding the acceptable forms of proof for the issuance of a credit. Two forms of documentation are required. You must apply for the credit within a limited time, so do not delay!

12. I have moved. What is my tax jurisdiction for motor vehicle taxes?

Your tax town is your town of residency as of October 1. If you moved from Norwich after October 1, but still resided in Connecticut, you must pay vehicle taxes to Norwich.

Municipalities within Connecticut do not prorate motor vehicle tax bills for portions of a tax year. If you registered the vehicle in another state, contact the Assessor’s Office.

If you move, you must notify the Department of Motor Vehicles of your new address within 48 hours. You should request a change of address on your driver's license and on each of your vehicle registration(s). The address on the vehicle registration is given to the Tax Collector's Office by the DMV and cannot be changed at the Tax Collector's Office.

13. I recently replaced a vehicle, and received a tax bill on the old vehicle. Do I have to pay it?

Yes. If you replaced one vehicle with another, and used the same license plates, you must pay on the first vehicle in July. In January, you will receive a pro-rated supplemental motor vehicle tax bill, payable by February 1 for the new vehicle. This bill will reflect a credit for the amount you should have paid in July on the old vehicle. You will receive this credit without having to apply for it. However, you must have paid the entire amount due on the old vehicle in July.

If you obtained new license plates for the new vehicle, you must apply for a credit through the Assessor’s Office.

14. What is a supplemental motor vehicle tax bill?

If you newly registered a motor vehicle after October 1, (first time registration), you will receive a pro-rated tax bill in the following January, due on January 1, payable by February 1.

This "supplemental" bill will reflect the time from the month the vehicle was first registered, through September 30.
You may receive a supplemental bill on a vehicle if, for some reason, your registration lapsed on the vehicle, and it was not renewed in time to be on the October 1st Grand List.

15. I received a letter from a collection agency regarding taxes that I owe to the City of Norwich. What do I do?

In July 2018, we switched Collection Agencies.  Our accounts are no longer with Rossi Law Offices and any future communications will come from TaxServ Capital Services LLC.  We can accept payment in our offices (including the applicable fees) for FULL bills in collection only.  If you need to make arrangements for partial payments on bills in collection, please contact TaxServ Capital Services .  The funds will be forwarded to the Norwich Tax Collector approximately a week after payment is made to the collection agency.  After we are able to verify payment, we can accept payment on any later tax bills that are with us.  TaxServ's phone number is 1-866-497-2427.

If you believe you are being taxed in error for the time period and have proof of such, contact the City of Norwich Assessor's Office at 860-823-3723, to see if the bill can be adjusted.

16. Do I need to save my receipts?

Yes. Save your receipts for 15 years, which is the length of time during which municipal taxes are collectible. Receipts will be issued for payments made in person at the Tax Office window. If you pay by mail and would like a receipt, please send a self-addressed, stamped envelope with your payment. The Tax Office does not give out tax payment information over the phone for income tax purposes. If you would like copies of your receipts after taxes have been paid, they are available for $0.50 per copy or you can

look up and pay property taxes online.

17. How is the tax rate established?

The City Council sets the mill rates annually in June as part of the municipal budget process.
The property tax rate is expressed in mills, or thousandths of a dollar. For example, a tax rate (mill rate) of 25.00 mills is equivalent to $25.00 in taxes per $1,000 of net assessed value.

18. My real estate tax bill should be paid by my bank or mortgage company. I received the tax bill in the mail directly from the City. What should I do?

The City receives lists from banks and mortgage companies in April and May requesting bills for the July payments. If a bank does not request your bill, it will be sent directly to you.

If you receive your tax bill, immediately contact your bank or mortgage company for instructions on where you should send the tax bill. The address may be printed in your mortgage payment coupon book.

After you have the information, make a copy of your bill, circle the dollar amount of the real estate payment due, write your loan number on it, and immediately forward it to your escrow agent or mortgage company. Additional instructions may be available on your bank or mortgage company's website.

19. I recently bought (or sold) a house in Norwich, and I have a question about what I owe. What should I do?

The property tax bills due in July will reflect ownership changes recorded through the end of May. If you recently purchased property in Norwich, and have not received a real estate tax bill, contact the Tax Collector’s Office to request a copy. You may also to the "Tax Bill Inquiry" screen and search for the real estate tax bill by the property address.

Check with the Assessor’s Office to ensure their records have been updated.

Payment must be made by August 1, whether or not a bill has been received.
The second installment is due on January 1 and must be paid by February 1 to avoid an interest penalty. If you purchase a property between October and January, the Tax Collector's office will not be notified from the Assessor's office that you are the new owner in time to send you a copy of the bill. If you own real estate property on January 1, you are responsible to pay the January 1st installment whether or not a bill is received.

20. I received a "Notice of Intent to Lien", what does that mean? How can I avoid the lien?

The City is required, by law, to lien any property with unpaid taxes before the new bills can be released.  The lien is recorded at the City Clerks office on the public land records and it means that the property cannot be sold or transferred until the city's interest in the property is satisfied.  Every year of unpaid taxes gets one lien.  The fee is an additional $24.00 on top of the tax principal and interest.  Once all the taxes and fees are paid in full, the lien can be released.  You will receive the Notice of Lien and the lien itself even if you are on a payment plan.  There is no way to avoid the lien being placed other than paying the entire outstanding balance on the property before the date listed on the letter.

21. Can I pay my taxes with an online check sent by my bank?

Yes, however we DO NOT recommend paying your taxes this way, especially towards the end of any month, as the envelope that the checks are mailed in DO NOT have a USPS postmark. Since CT General State Statute states "No tax or installment thereof shall be construed to be delinquent...if the envelope containing the amount due..., bears a postmark showing a date within the time allowed by statute for the payment of such tax or installment.", we will process the checks using the interest date of the day that the payment was received. Any other payments made by mail that are received with envelopes that do not have a USPS postmark will be processed in the same manner. Exception: Envelopes that are postmarked on time, but include payments that are postdated past the last day to pay will be processed with applicable interest.

22. Can I pay my taxes with a third party check?

No. The City of Norwich and the Tax Collector's office cannot accept third party checks. Third party checks are checks that have been made out to one party and then "signed over" to another party.

23. Am I eligible for any tax exemptions?

You may be eligible. The exemptions are handled by the Assessor’s Office.

24. Who do I ask? The Assessor or the Tax Collector?

Questions about tax billings, delinquent taxes, amounts paid, interest charged, and motor vehicle releases should be directed to the Tax Collector’s Office.

Questions about assessed values, adjustments, exemptions, credits, tax relief programs, motor vehicle credits, revaluation, and vehicle adjustments should be directed to the Assessor’s Office.

25. Does the City of Norwich own any properties that are currently for sale?

Yes.  The City of Norwich has obtained some properties due to foreclosure.  They have been placed with a local Realtor to facilitate sales.  Contact Signature Properties of New England at (860) 447-8839 for more information.

Every so often, the city will have a Tax Sale on properties that are severely delinquent.  To be notified when the next sale is scheduled, visit our subscription service "Notify Me" and sign-up to receive an email notification the next time a Tax Sale is announced.

26. How can I find out how much I paid in taxes last year? (usually for IRS filing purposes)

1)  We cannot accept the liability of improperly imparted or interpreted information, so therefore we cannot give out past payment amounts verbally or over the phone.

2)  In Person or By Mail:  Printed payment history reports are available in our offices for $0.50 per page.  Most accounts can be fit on 1-2 pages.  If you are unable to visit us at 100 Broadway, Norwich, you may mail us a detailed request with a check or money order for $0.50 per name requested and a self-addressed, stamped envelope for the returned report.

3)  Online:  Past payment information can be found online in much the same manner as you would search for bills to pay.  Find and follow detailed instructions here at IRS Payment Report.