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1. I didn't receive my tax bill. What should I do?

New York State Real Property Tax Law 922(3) states that property owners are responsible for all property taxes and any applicable interest whether or not the bill is received.

If you have not received your bill, please complete the form found here or call 784-5240.   Tax information is also available 24/7 at the Monroe County website.

PLEASE NOTE - If your taxes are held in escrow, your bill will be forwarded directly to your lender.

2. Is the amount of my tax bill available yet?

The bill amounts are generally available by January 1 / September 1, but we have created a Tax Bill Availability mailing list allowing you to be notified by email or text as soon as they are available.  Sign up: https://www.townofbrighton.org/list.aspx

3. How can I get a copy of my tax receipt?

In the ongoing effort to keep costs down, we do not automatically mail a receipt for all received tax payments.  New York State law requires that receipts be sent to all property owners whose taxes are in escrow, but we do not otherwise mail any receipts unless specifically requested by checking the box on the payment stub.  

You are always able request a copy of your receipt be emailed to you by completing a Tax Receipt Request form.

4. What if the due date falls on a weekend?

Any time a due date falls on a day when Town Offices are closed, payments will be considered timely on the next business day without any penalty or additional interest due.  We also now have a payment drop box located at the rear of Town Hall at Entrance #9 that is available 24/7.

5. What is the difference between the STAR exemption and the STAR credit?

The School Tax Relief (STAR) program offers property tax relief to eligible New York State homeowners.  There are two versions.  The STAR exemption subtracts the value of the exemption from your School tax bill.  STAR credit recipients will receive a check from New York State for the amount of the STAR credit for their particular school district.  You must own your home, it must be your primary residence and the combined income of the owners and owners' spouses is $500,000 or less.

Homeowners who have owned their primary residence before 2015 will be able to continue receiving the STAR exemption if they choose.  The amount of the STAR exemption is now locked and will not change.  No new homeowners will be added to this program.

All new homeowners may apply for the STAR credit.  The amount of the credit check is determined by the school district that the home is located in and the amount of the credit can increase by as much as 2% each year.  Individuals who have owned their homes since before 2015 may decide to switch to the STAR credit.  

STAR REGISTRATION

6. Do I qualify for the Enhanced STAR exemption?

If you are 65 or older, or will be by December 31, you may be eligible for an exemption which will reduce future school tax bills.  Please contact the Brighton Assessor's Office @ 784-5215 for further information by March 1^st.

7. Can I pay my taxes with a credit card?

Yes.   There are two credit card options.

IN PERSON in the Brighton Town Clerk's Office 

Our vendor will charge a 2.45% convenience fee for all credit card payments.

ONLINE at the Monroe County website.  

1. Go to the Monroe County website’s tax page - HERE
2. Enter your property address
3. Click the green Pay Property Taxes button
4. Click the Pay taxes button at the bottom of the page

Monroe County’s vendor will charge a 2.75% convenience fee for all credit card payments.  

8. I paid off my mortgage. What now?

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

If you have paid off your mortgage, please complete the Change Request for Tax Bill form let us know to send future bills directly to your billing address.  

Important reminder - Property owners are responsible for the tax bill and any applicable interest whether or not they receive a bill, so please make sure and let us know.

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9. Are there rules about mailing my payments?

POSTMARKS AND POSTAGE METERS

New York State Real Property Tax law section 925 states:

if payment for the amount of any taxes on real property, accompanied by the statement of such taxes, is enclosed in a postpaid wrapper properly addressed to  the  appropriate collecting  officer and is deposited in a post office or official depository under the exclusive care and custody of the United States postal service, such payment shall, upon delivery, be deemed to have been made to such officer on the date of the United States postmark on such wrapper.  If the postmark does not appear on such wrapper or the postmark is illegible such payment shall be deemed to have been made on the date of delivery to such collecting officer.

tl;dr:  payments received without a US postmark or with a postage meter mark will be marked received on the day they are delivered to our office.

This is of particular importance at or near the due dates.  If your envelope arrives after a due date and lacks an USPS postmark, you will be liable for the applicable interest.  To avoid this, we highly recommend that you go into a USPS branch and ask that they postmark your envelope while you watch.

10. Is it true that I am not allowed to use online bill pay for taxes?

We strongly advise AGAINST using online bill pay for your taxes.  The banks still mail us a physical check when you submit your online request.  The companies that print and mail checks for the banks use a different class of mail that DOES NOT receive a USPS postmark.  If a payment arrives after the due date, the lack of USPS postmark will result in it being late and you would be liable for interest on those payments received after the due date.

We have prepared this primer on the perils of using online bill pay.

11. Can I pay my taxes in person anywhere other than Town Hall?

Unfortunately, not at this time.  If you are not able to make it into our office during business hours, please utilize one of our payment drop boxes.

12. I am helping care for a relative. Can I get a copy of their tax bill?

Any property owner can designate another person to receive a duplicate copy of their tax bill by completing the Change Request for Tax Bill form.  We will mail or email a copy of the bill to that individual.