Delinquent Taxes
Collection of Delinquent Taxes
The delinquent tax collector plays a vital role in ensuring that Town taxes are paid by all taxpayers of the Town. It is the delinquent tax collector's job to notify taxpayers when their taxes are overdue and to make arrangements for payment of delinquent taxes, or to take formal collection actions, including conducting tax sales of property when necessary. It is the obligation of the delinquent tax collector to keep records of all delinquent accounts and to provide an accounting of these records to the auditors for inclusion in the Town Report.
According to State statute, within twenty days after the final due date (or the date at which the final installment is due), the treasurer must issue to the delinquent tax collector a warrant against the delinquent taxpayers in the amount of taxes remaining unpaid. This warrant remains in effect until all taxes on it are paid or otherwise discharged. The treasurer delivers the warrant to the delinquent tax collector who then MUST proceed to collect the taxes.
Unpaid Taxes
Taxes that are unpaid after the annual due date (Usually on/around October 1st of each year) are subject to interest at the rate of 1% for each month or part of a month that they are late for the first three months, and then 1.5% every month thereafter. Further, an additional penalty of 8% is assessed on unpaid taxes upon the day AFTER they became due.
These rates fall within State statutes and apply even if the taxes are only one day late. The Delinquent Tax Office or Treasurer’s Office has no authority to waive or abate the interest and penalty charges.
There is NO allowance for a grace period or waiver of penalties or interest due to a mail delay, bank transfer delay, weather delay or any other reason. It is the taxpayer’s responsibility to ensure payment is received by the town ON or BEFORE it’s due date.
Delinquent Tax Collection Policy
The delinquent tax collector shall notify each overdue taxpayer upon receipt of the Treasurer's warrant filed with the Town Clerk in October of each year.
The amount due shall include penalty and interest and shall be billed on a monthly basis. Payments received shall be applied to the interest portion of the amount due first, then proportionately between the tax and penalty.
Installment payments may be made by arrangement with the delinquent tax collector. Such arrangements require that taxes shall be paid in so that taxes are paid in full before the final due date or any new taxes become due. Agreements for installment payments shall be in writing. Failure to make payments as agreed will constitute a default and the property will be subject to immediate tax sale proceedings.
If the delinquent taxpayer has not either paid the delinquency in full, or entered into a written payment agreement with the delinquent tax collector within sixty days of the first notice of delinquency, mortgage holders and lien holders may be notified that taxes are delinquent and must be paid or tax sale proceedings will be initiated by the Town.
Abatement of Delinquent Taxes
The Board of Abatement may abate in whole or in part, taxes, interest, and penalties in the following cases:
o Taxes of persons who have died insolvent
o Taxes of persons who have moved from the State
o Taxes of persons who are unable to pay their taxes, interest, and penalties
o Taxes in which there is manifest error or a mistake of the Listers
o Taxes upon real or personal property lost or destroyed during the tax years
Requests for abatements should be addressed to the Board of Abatement, in care of the Town Clerk at PO Box 95, Fairlee, VT 05045 -OR- townclerk@fairleevt.gov