Manchester Extends Grace On 2nd-Quarter Tax, Sewer Water Bills

MANCHESTER, NJ — Manchester Township has extended the grace period for property tax payments and with water and sewer bills to June 30 for residents due to the impact of the outbreak of the new coronavirus.

Second-quarter property tax payments are due May 1, and usually have a grace period through May 10, and township water and sewer bills were due on April 15, with a grace period through May 15.

Both grace periods will be extended, after the Township Council approved a resolution on the matter at Monday's council meeting.

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That means the township will waive interest charges on late payments until June 30.

"While every effort to pay property taxes, water, sewer charges and fees by the due date should be made, thus allowing the township to efficiently provide essential services, it is recognized that some residents are facing unprecedented difficulty due to the COVID-19 pandemic," officials said in a news release.

Payments made after June 30, however, will be charged interest retroactive to the original due date.

The usual rate of interest for delinquent tax, water and sewer payments is as follows: 8 percent on the first $1,500 of delinquent payment; 18 percent on the amount in excess of $1,500; and an additional penalty of 6 percent per annum in excess of $10,000.

"The Mayor and Council are limited by strict state and federal guidelines in providing relief to taxpayers under the current State of Emergency," the news release said. "We are facing unprecedented events in our history and the Mayor and Council continue to seek every legal means of relief for our residents."

Read more: NJ Coronavirus Updates: Here's What You Need To Know

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