BOROUGH OF TOTOWA
Tax Department
537 Totowa Road, 1st Floor Totowa, NJ 07512
Business Hours
Monday - Friday 9:00am – 4:30pm
Tax Assessor available at the Municipal Complex from 3:00pm - 4:40pm or by making an appointment
Lisa Nash, Tax Collector
lnash@totowanj.org | (973) 956-1000 ext. 1002 | fax (973) 956-5668
Danielle Mulroony, Administrative Clerk
dmulroony@totowanj.org | (973) 956-1000 ext. 1003 | fax (973) 956-5668
Curt Masklee, Tax Assessor*
cmasklee@totowanj.org | (973) 956-1000 ext. 1007 | fax (973) 956-5668
PROPERTY TAX PAYMENTS
PAYMENT DUE DATES
Taxes are due quarterly, February 1st, May 1st, August 1st, and November 1st
GRACE PERIOD
There is a ten-day grace period. Should the 10th fall on a weekend or holiday, the last grace day is the next business day.
To avoid interest charges, payment must be received in the Tax Collector’s Office no later than the last grace for the period. The postmark date is NOT accepted. If payment has not been made within the grace period, interest will be assessed retroactive to the original due date.
MAKING PAYMENTS
Check or Money Order in the tax office or by mail. We do not recommend paying by cash. E-Check, debit card or credit card can be utilized online by clicking on the "PAY ONLINE" icon above.
RECEIPTS
If you require a receipted tax bill, submit the entire bill and a self-addressed postage paid envelope with your payment.
If your cancelled check is sufficient receipt, submit the tax collector’s stub for the quarter being paid with your payment. Tax collector’s payment stubs are on the lower portion of the tax bill.
MAKING PAYMENTS WITHOUT A TAX BILL
Payments made without a tax bill or payment stub must clearly indicate the property location and/or block and lot number for which the payment is being made to insure proper credit.
DELINQUENT PROPERTY TAXES
DELINQUENT INTEREST CHARGES
Interest on delinquent taxes is charged from the due date at a rate of 8% per annum on the first $1,500.00 of the delinquency and 18% per annum on the amount in excess of $1,500.00. Interest at a rate of 18% will continue to be charged on subsequent delinquent tax payments until the account is brought current.
YEAR END PENALTY
A penalty of 6% shall be charged on any delinquency in excess of $10,000.00 if not paid by December 31st of the current year.
TAX SALE
Properties delinquent on prior year taxes will be included in the annual tax sale. At the tax sale, the Borough will auction a lien on the property which would include unpaid property taxes, special assessments, water, utility charges and accrued interest to the date of sale.
STATE LAW: The provisions set forth above are all in accordance with the Law of the State of New Jersey.
PROPERTY TAX BILLING
WHEN TAX BILLS ARE MAILED
Taxes bills are mailed annually in late June or early July. In some years, the bills are not sent out until early August due to circumstances beyond our control. When this occurs, the payment, usually due in August will be extended for 25 days from the date of mailing. The bill reflects payments due August 1st and November 1st of the current year, as well as payments due for February 1st and May 1st of the coming year.
Added tax bills for recently completed improvements are mailed in October.
Added tax bills are due IN ADDITION to the bill issued in June/July.
Payments on added tax bills are due November 1st, February 1st and May 1st.
FAILURE TO RECEIVE OR CANNOT LOCATE YOUR TAX BILL
Contact the Tax Collector’s office if you did not receive or misplaced your tax bill.
N.J.S.A. 54:4-64 states, “the validity of any tax or assessment, or the time at which it shall be payable, shall not be affected by the failure of a taxpayer to receive a tax bill, but every taxpayer is put on notice to ascertain from the proper official of the taxing district the amount which may be due for taxes or assessments against him or his property…”
WHAT NEW HOMEOWNERS NEED TO KNOW
New property owners should obtain the current tax bill at the time of closing. If not, contact the Tax Collector’s office immediately to arrange for a duplicate.
RECENTLY SATISFIED ESCROW LOANS
If your taxes are no longer being escrowed and you are now responsible for your payment, use the advice copy of the current tax bill. If you cannot locate the advice copy, contact the Tax Collector’s office immediately to arrange for a duplicate.
DEDUCTIONS
You make be eligible for a yearly tax deduction off your property tax bill. The State of New Jersey offers two types of deductions at the local level:
The first for seniors 65 and older or disabled persons 55 and older collecting a disability check from the State of New Jersey.
The second is a veteran/or widow of a veteran. Certain requirements must be met for this program. Please visit or call the Tax Collector for more information.
STATE PROGRAMS RELATED TO PROPERTY TAXES
Senior Freeze (Property Tax Reimbursement) - New applications and information regarding this program can be obtained at the Tax Collector's Office.
2016 Homestead Credit Information - The 2016 Homestead Benefit Credits have been mailed and are being applied to the May 2019 tax quarter. (Please note only half of the Homestead Credit will be distributed this quarter)
To see if you are eligible for these or other programs, please visit the Division of Taxations Property Tax Relief Program at www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/relief.
Appeals - A claimant may appeal their assessment on their property to the Passaic County Board of Taxation annually on or before April 1st. Applications can be obtained at the Tax Assessor's office or online at passaiccountynj.org.