Aug. 1 is Deadline for Paying Taxes

Ledyard taxpayers have until Monday, Aug. 1, to pay their property taxes without a penalty. For Tax Collector Joan Carroll, the approaching deadline has meant a steady stream of customers in her office this week to pay their tax bills.

For some reason – she’s not really sure why – many people seem to like to pay their taxes in person.  She does it herself, she said. “It’s a lot of money, and I guess people just want to be sure it gets there.”

Of course, residents may mail in their remittance, or pay online with a credit card or e-check (there is a “convenience fee” for this). But many still like to pay their taxes in person. And many still pay in cash, Carroll said.

Residents also have the option to pay their taxes at Dime Bank in Ledyard Center. They may no longer pay their taxes at Citizens Bank in Gales Ferry, Carroll said.

Even without the foot traffic, the last week of July is a busy time in the tax collector’s office. The town’s annual property tax levy is $29,650,228 million. Carroll said about a third of it comes in during the last week of July.

Carroll, along with assistants Joyce Bush and Patty Butler, have been right out straight.

There is a 1.5 percent per month late interest penalty, and because the bills were actually due July 1 with a 30-day grace period, the penalty would be 3 percent for property owners who pay after Aug. 1. Tack on another 1.5 percent for every month late after that, up to 18 percent a year.

Most residents will never pay such penalties. In fact, by year’s end, Carroll said her office expects to collect 98.7 percent of what is owed.