A:  Real Estate listed on the current grand list

• Personal Property including equipment, furniture, and fixtures owned or leased by  a business; unregistered motor vehicles; campers; horses.  Personal Property cannot be pro-rated.
  
• Motor Vehicles registered with the Department of Motor Vehicles.  These  vehicles are coded by tax town and the Assessor is provided a list of registered vehicles each year by the DMV.

Q:  How is the value of my property arrived at?

A:  Personal Property, other than registered motor vehicles, is assessed at 70% of its value, as determined by use of straight-line depreciation.  Real property is assessed at 70% of its value as of October 1, 2004 the last date of our revaluation.  Registered motor vehicles are required to be assessed at 70% of the average retail value, using NADA guides.

Q:  How is the mill rate established?

A:  In May of each year, the budget is voted on by the taxpayers at the annual Town Meeting.  If passed, the mill rate is usually set immediately following the meeting.  The property tax rate is expressed in mills or thousandths of a dollar.  For example, a mill rate of 21.00 is equivalent to $21.00 of taxes per every $1,000 of net assessed value.  Please look on your July bill for the current mill rate.

Q:  What if I disagree with my Property Assessment?

A:  Taxpayers are encouraged to first present their questions and reasons for disagreement to the Assessor.  If you still disagree, you may file an application with the Board of Assessment Appeals, which meets annually in February or March to hear appeals from decisions of the Assessor.  They also meet in September to hear motor vehicle assessment appeals only. 

Q:  What if I did not receive my tax bill on time?

A:  If your tax bill is delayed, it is because we do not have the most current address on file for you.  We can change your address in our computer system but it will only correct the current list.  The Department of Motor Vehicles sends the Assessor a new listing each year.  State Statute 14-17A states that within 48 hours of moving to a new address, a Connecticut resident must change their address with DMV.  For a link to DMV’s change of address site, please click here http://ct.gov/dmv/site/default.asp.  You can also get a change of address form at the tax collector’s office.

Reasons for returned mail:  1) Your zip code is incorrect.  Pomfret Center is 06259 and Pomfret is 06258.  Please make sure that your correct mailing address is on file with DMV.  2) you have moved and we do not have a forwarding address on file.

Q:  What if I receive a tax bill for a motor vehicle that I no longer own or have registered in another state?

A:  The motor vehicle bill you receive in July 2008 is based upon the registration of that vehicle as of October 1, 2007.  With the proper proof, your motor vehicle bill may be deleted if no longer owned prior to October 1, 2007 OR pro-rated if disposed of between October 1, 2007 and August 31, 2008.  “Disposed of” includes sold, destroyed, stolen or registered out of state and not replaced with another vehicle using the same license plate.

If you have any questions, please call the Assessor at 974-1674.

 Proper proof needs to be given to the Assessor.  This includes two proofs as follows:

1. a plate receipt from DMV
2. a copy of the bill of sale
3. a copy of the out of state registration
4. a statement from your insurance company indicating the reason insurance was cancelled, the date cancelled and the vehicle description including the VIN
5. a statement from the junkyard
6. a copy of your trade-in agreement

Q:  What if I got a new vehicle and used the same plate?

A:  If you simply transferred the plate from a previous vehicle, you do not have to do anything.  The billing will follow that plate.  If you did this after October 1, 2007, the bill that you receive in July 2008 will be on the old motor vehicle.  In January, you will receive a pro-rated tax bill on the new motor vehicle, with a pro-rated credit from the old motor vehicle applied to the new motor vehicle.

Q:  I am being improperly billed for a motor vehicle.  What should I do?

A:  Do not ignore your bill!   Contact the Assessor at 974-1674 for assistance.

Q:  What is a “supplemental motor vehicle bill”?

A:  Supplemental motor vehicle tax bills are created for any person who owns a motor vehicle that is NOT registered on the current October 1 assessment year but is registered subsequent to October 1 of the following assessment year.  The supplemental motor vehicle tax is a PRO-RATED tax for the partial months the vehicle is owned.  On your bill, you will see a code for the month in which the vehicle was registered.  For Example:  If you register a car in February 2008, the car did not appear on the October 1, 2007 Grand List.  A bill for February – September 2008 will be issued in January 2009, with the reference of 2007 Grand List, as this is an added bill for the 2007 Grand List.

Q:  How do I make payments?

A:  Save time & money by mailing your payment and bill stubs to:  Pomfret Tax Collector, P.O. Box 286, Pomfret Center, CT 06259.  Make your check payable to “Pomfret Tax Collector”.  If you would like a receipt, please include a stamped, self-addressed envelope and your entire bill.  For your convenience, you may also pay through this website.  There is a fee charged to you for using this service.  You may also pay in person at the tax office during regular business hours.  When paying in person, please remember to bring your tax bill(s) with you.  The Tax Office accepts cash, money orders, bank checks or personal checks at the office window.

Q:  Could I be eligible for any exemptions?

A:  You may be eligible for one of the following:

• Elderly/totally disabled homeowners
• Veterans
• Blind & totally disabled property owners
• New “Freight for Hire” motor vehicles
• Open Space, Farm or Forest Land
• Farming equipment
• Dairy Farmers abatement
• Firemen’s abatement

            Please contact the Assessor for more information at 974-1674.

Q:  Are there any tax relief programs for senior citizens or for people on social security disability?

A:  Yes, there are programs available through the state as well as a local program.  Please contact the Assessor at 974-1674 for further information on these programs.

Q:  What happens if I do not pay my bill(s) on time?

A:  Interest is charged at 1 ½% per month (18% annually) on the balance from the due date per State Statute 12-146.  There is a minimum interest charge of $4.00 per bill ($2.00 per Town portion and $2.00 per Fire District).   All motor vehicle bills that are not paid on time are reported to DMV as delinquent and a MV tax release will be needed as proof of payment prior to registering any new vehicle or renewing any existing registration.  Example:  To figure interest due, a payment made in August add 3% to total due, September 4 ½ %, October 6%, etc. 

Q:  What does the notation “Back Taxes” on my tax bill mean?

A:  If the notation “back taxes” appears on your tax bill, it simply means that taxes from a previous year are still owed.  Please call the tax office for updated interest charges on what you already owe.   Back taxes and interest must be paid in full before payment on current bills can be accepted per state statute 12-144b.

Q:  Do I need to save my receipts?

A:  Yes, we recommend that you save your receipts for 15 years, the length of time during which municipal taxes are collectible.

Q:  Where do I find out what I paid in taxes to report on my federal and state income tax return?

A:  Each year, between January and April, we get as many as 20 calls a day wanting information as to how much and when tax payments were made.  We are happy to provide this information; however, please try to keep those records available for your own information as the Tax Office may not be able to provide the information to you when needed.