| |
Office of the Town Treasurer/Collector
Treasurer/Collector: Jane Cunniff Lepardo
Town Hall
600 Chief Justice Cushing Way
Scituate, MA 02066
Phone: (781) 545-8718
Fax: (781) 545-0696
Office Hours:
Monday, Wednesday and Thursday: 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
Tuesday: 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
Staff:
Services:
The Treasurer/Collector's office is responsible for the collection of the following bills:
- Real estate
- Personal property
- Water
- Vehicle excise
- Boat excise
- Police details
- Septage fees
- Collection of returned checks for all departments with a $25 per item fee; replacement funds in cash, money order, or bank check only
Other Treasurer/Collector functions include:
- Issuance of municipal lien certificates (MLC’s). Effective November 2, 2009 MLC’s are $50.00 each
- Securing liens against delinquent taxpayers (tax taking to foreclosure)
- Preparation of tax title and water/sewer betterment lien redemptions/releases
- Payroll administration and preparation
- Administration of Town’s employee benefit program
- Liaison with Plymouth County Retirement System
- Maintenance of Town’s banking relationships
- Debt and cash management activities
- Investment of Town funds
Important Tax Information
Effective December 2, 2009 demand fees on late tax and excise payments are $15.00. This increase was voted at the Special Town Meeting of November 2, 2009.
Real estate and personal property tax bills:
- Scituate operates using a fiscal year of July 1 through June 30.
- Real estate tax bill payments are due annually on a quarterly basis: August 1, November 1, February 1, and May 1. Due dates falling on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday will be due the following business day.
- Quarterly billings are mailed twice per year: preliminary (estimated) bills at the end of June, and actual bills at the end of December, both with two remit slips.
- Interest and penalties are charged for late payments; delinquent accounts are assigned to the Deputy Collector after the demand period, and prior to a tax taking.
- Partial payments are accepted on real estate, but interest will be charged on any outstanding balance.
- New/subsequent owners are responsible for seeking out a tax bill if one is not received. The law requires that tax bills be mailed to the owners of record as of January 1st for the fiscal year starting that July 1st. Assessors enter deed details.
The Town’s Lockbox processing center cannot post bills paid through a personal online banking service because a remit slip is not included with the check. If you prefer to use your own bank’s payment service, please mail payments to: Treasurer/Collector, 600 CJC Hwy, Scituate, MA 02066. Be sure to update to current bill numbers, and the type of bill being paid (e.g. R #1234 - real estate, P #1234 - personal property, MV #1234 - motor vehicle excise, W #01234 - water). Be sure to allow sufficient mailing time since bills are considered paid when physically received in the T/C office; postmarks do not count. Feel free to call the T/C office at 781-545-8718 with any payment questions.
Motor vehicle excise tax bills:
- Motor vehicle tax bills are mailed throughout the year as commitment data is received from the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV).
- The majority of vehicle excise bills are mailed in February on the Town’s 1st RMV commitment.
- Interest and penalties are charged for late vehicle excise payments; partial payments are not accepted; accounts are assigned to the Deputy Collector after the demand period.
- License/registration renewals may be withheld due to late vehicle excise payments.
Boat excise tax bills:
Bills are generally mailed in November (due in January, 60 days from issuance) for that year’s boating season. If your excise is not paid when due, you will be charged interest at the rate of 12% per annum and collection costs. You will also be charged a late penalty of $20.00, or 20% of the excise due, whichever is greater. Harbormaster requires payment confirmation.
Water/Sewer bills:
- Bills are mailed four times per year. Payment is due within 30 days of issuance. Interest and penalties will be charged for late payments.
- Unpaid water/sewer bills are liened onto 3rd quarter Real Estate bills in December.
- Questions or disputes regarding billing amounts due must be directed to the Water Department promptly for resolution.
|
