school tax bills due January 31st--10% penalty if late

Don’t forget to pay your second half of school taxes by January 31st---avoid 10% penalties

During the first week of February some Greenburgh and Westchester residents will be furious because they forgot to pay the second half of the school tax (due on January 31st) and received a 10% penalty because they paid the taxes late. Other taxpayers will be calling town officials during the month of February complaining about penalties that exceed $1,000 for being a day or a few days late.

I have complained about the 10% penalty many times. The majority of the Town Board and many other municipal officials in Westchester believe that NYS does not allow penalties to be waived by local governments even if the taxpayer had a legitimate concern—did not receive the bill in the mail or had other legitimate issues---family members in the hospital with serious illness. I think the 10% penalty is excessive, wrong, and so far, haven’t been able to change the law. Towns and school districts are independent of each other. Town governments collect school taxes and must guarantee the school districts 100% of the taxes whether collected or not.

The Receiver of Taxes is sending out reminders. We have also placed reminders on digital boards.

Don’t forget.

PAUL FEINER