How and where do I pay my tax bill? |
There are several methods available for the payment of property and school taxes:
In person payments:
Accepted at the Guilderland Tax Office during our collections. Checks, cash and Discover Card are accepted at the counter.
First Niagara Bank – 1973 Western Avenue – Checks and cash are accepted during normal bank hours. Current hours appear below.
Lobby:
Monday-Wednesday: 9:00am – 4:00pm
Thursday-Friday: 9:00am – 6:00pm
Saturday: 9:00am – 12 Noon
Drive-thru:
Monday–Wednesday: 8:30am – 5:00pm
Thursday-Friday: 8:30am – 6:00pm
Saturday: 8:30am – 12 Noon
Your Nearest United States Post Office –
If paying at the end of a collection period, we suggest you use certified mail with return receipt requested. Keep your receipt for proof of mailing.
The mailing address used by the Guilderland Town Hall is:
P.O. Box 339, Guilderland, NY 12084-0339
The physical address for in-person visits or overnight payments is:
5209 Western Turnpike, Guilderland, NY 12084
Lockbox –
A secured lockbox is located at the Guilderland Town Hall just to the left of the front doors. It is available 24 hours.
Internet –
Master Card and Visa payments can be made over the Internet. The site can be accessed via the town website at www.townofguilderland.org. There is a convenience fee charged for this method of payment. The convenience fee is charged by the vendor, as the municipality cannot incur that cost for the payment of taxes.
I never received my bill, or received it late; do I still have to pay the penalty? |
Yes, the failure to mail a statement or the failure of a property owner to receive a statement will not affect the validity of the taxes or interest prescribed by law (New York State Real Property Tax Law Section 922.) It is the responsibility of the property owner to know when taxes are due and payable. In addition, neither the Receiver of Taxes nor any other official has legal authority to waive statutory interest charges. Interest charges are fixed by the Real Property Tax Law.
If I mail my payment on the due date do I have to pay a penalty? |
New York State Real Property Tax Law Section 925, provides as follows: “Payment of taxes by mail, when enclosed in a postpaid wrapper (envelope) properly addressed to the appropriate collecting officer and deposited in a post office or official depository under the exclusive care and custody of the United States Post Office shall, upon deliver, be deemed to have been made to such officer on the date of the United States Postmark on such wrapper. The provisions of this section shall not apply in the case of postmarks not made by the United States Post Office. A postage meter postmark is not a postmark made by the United States Post Office and, therefore, is not within the provisions of Real Property Tax Law Section 925. Payments cannot be deemed timely because of a postage meter postmark date on an envelope
containing a tax payment (Op. New York State Comptroller 69-170).
If taxes are not received until after the due date, they are not paid until after the due date unless they fall squarely within the provisions of Section 925 of the Real Property Tax Law, and the interest must be added and collected. No Town official or employee can waive the interest (Op. New York State Comptroller 68-626.)
Do you accept payment with credit cards? |
The Guilderland Tax Office does accept the Discover Card for payment of property and school taxes as well as for water bill payments. There is a sliding fee schedule for the convenience of this payment option based on the amount of the bill. Master Card and Visa payments are now accepted via the Internet. A “delivery fee” applies.
Can I pay my taxes in installments? |
In general, taxes cannot be made in installments. This is an option that would have to be adopted first by Albany County, then by the Town of Guilderland and School Districts. If it were to be adopted by the school districts, all four school districts within the Town would have to adopt it. However, Senior Citizens who currently have a Senior Citizen’s Exemption, Section 467 of the Real Property Tax Law, (not to be confused with the STAR Exemption), can make installments payments on the General Property Tax bill in January. It has to be made in two equal installments, the first not later than February 1 and, provided that the first installment has been paid, the second, with interest as determined pursuant to Section 924-a, shall be paid prior to April 1. Again, this is the only type of installment
payment that can be made. It applies only to residents who currently have a Senior Citizen (Aged) Exemption and only on the January General Tax bill.
Collection authority cannot begin prior to the date of the warrant. The warrant constitutes the authority for the collecting officer to receive tax payments. Therefore, the warrant must be regarded as the instrument, which empowers the collecting officer to begin the collection. The Albany County Department of Finance has dated the annual Property Tax Warrant the last business day of December. Therefore, those wishing to pay the January bill for a previous year tax credit may do so by contacting the Guilderland Tax Office.
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