2nd tax installment now overdue, includes fees
The second installment of city tax bills — real estate, personal property, motor vehicle, sewer — was due Jan. 1, and payments after Feb. 1 are considered delinquent and subject to interest, per state law.
The 2022 supplemental motor vehicle bills are for vehicles registered after Oct. 1, 2022, and were also due Jan. 1.
Payments — full or partial — can be made by cash, check, credit card, debit card or money order from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays in the tax office on the first floor of City Hall, 355 Main St. The building has an ATM on the first floor.
Taxpayers can also make payments online at https://www.mytaxbill.org/inet/bill/home.do?town=westhaven. Sewer bills are on the same page but under a separate tab. Tax payment history can also be viewed and printed.
The fees for credit cards and electronic checks are available on the Tax Collector page of the city website at https://www.cityofwesthaven.com/276/Payments.
During tax season, taxes can be paid by the drop box outside the interior door of the tax office from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Do not leave cash or credit card information in the drop box.
When paying by drop box, the canceled check is the receipt.
Taxes can also be paid by mail to the Office of the Tax Collector, City of West Haven, P.O. Box 401, West Haven 06516.
Anyone needing a motor vehicle clearance must pay in person by cash, credit card, debit card or money order.
Assessment appeals heard
The Board of Assessment Appeals will hear appeals of real estate and personal property assessments on the 2023 grand list by appointment during March.
The board will also hear appeals of motor vehicle assessments on the 2022 supplemental motor vehicle grand list that received a tax bill due Jan. 1.
Any property owner who wants to appeal an assessment must submit a written application to the board. The assessor’s office must receive the completed form on or before Feb. 20.
Download an application at https://www.cityofwesthaven.com/DocumentCenter/View/5968/Board-of-Assessment-Appeals-Application-PDF.
Applications are also available in the assessor’s office on the first floor of City Hall, 355 Main St., or by calling the office at (203) 937-3515. Staff members will answer questions about the appeal process.
Assessor’s office accepting tax relief applications now
The assessor’s office is accepting applications by appointment for tax relief programs for elderly and disabled homeowners.
West Haven residents can apply for the programs, based on their 2023 taxable and untaxable incomes, weekdays from Feb. 15-May 15 in the assessor’s office on the first floor of City Hall, 355 Main St. For an appointment, call (203) 937-3515. No walk-ins.
The state offers a tax reduction benefit depending on income and marital status through the circuit breaker program. To qualify, the applicant or spouse must be 65 or older by Dec. 31, 2023, or permanently and totally disabled as defined by Social Security.
Income limits, including Social Security, are $53,400 for married applicants and $43,800 for a single applicant. Those eligible for the program must reapply every two years.
To qualify for the West Haven tax freeze program, the applicant must be age 70 by Dec. 31, 2023, and have lived in the city for at least 20 consecutive years. The program will freeze the city portion of the resident’s taxes only for the upcoming year.
Income limits, excluding Social Security, are $50,000 for married applicants and $35,000 for a single applicant. Those eligible for the program must reapply each year.
The assessor’s office is also accepting applications until Oct. 1 for additional veterans exemptions. The maximum income is $53,400 for married applicants and $43,800 for a single applicant.
For veterans who are 100% service connected, income limits are $24,000 for married applicants and $21,000 for a single applicant. Social Security and veterans disability payments do not count for 100% disabled veterans only. All other ratings must include veterans disability payments and Social Security.