Date: Fri 11-Jul-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

tax-bills-Mahoney

Full Text:

Tax Bills Sent Out

BY STEVE BIGHAM

Tax Collector Carol Mahoney and her staff reported sending out more than

30,000 tax bills last week.

Now, they've got to collect the money. Last year, the town collected 98

percent of all due taxes.

There's more work than just collecting money, though. The office has been

fielding all kinds of phone calls from residents.

Mrs Mahoney said the most common call comes from people stating that they were

billed for a vehicle they had sold. Here's why:

If you no longer own the car, but used the plates on another car, you should

still pay the July bill. Credit will be given on the old car toward the new

car billed in January.

If you sold the car and failed to return the plates to the state motor vehicle

department, the tax office needs a copy of the bill of sale and title transfer

or a copy of the new owner's registration.

If you junked the car, the office needs a copy of the receipt from the place

of business where the car was junked.

If you moved out of state, the office needs a copy of the new registration

from the other state or a copy of your new deed or rental contract showing

date of residency.

Mrs Mahoney said the tax due date is July 1, but no penalty fee is charged

until August 1. However, many residents call the tax office asking "How do you

expect me to pay my bill on time when I just got it today?"

Other people call up in shock over the assessed value of their car. "If I

could get that amount for my car I'd be happy," they often say.

But, as Mrs Mahoney points out, the value of all vehicles is found in the blue

book, which does not take the condition of the vehicle into consideration.

Tax bills can be paid in two installments, with the first due by August 1 and

the second by February 1.