If you are a new property owner in our area, you should know when to expect to receive property tax bills for your property. The Real Property Tax law does not allow for the forgiving of taxes, interest or penalties due to non-receipt by the property owner of a bill. Sometimes, when property is transferred, new ownership information does not get to the tax collector prior to mailing of tax bills. When this happens the prior owner or their escrow company may receive the tax bill and fail to forward it to the new owner. So if you are a new property owner, look for your property tax bill, if it is not delivered within the schedule outlined below, call the tax collector, or our office (585) 396-4382 and we will provide a telephone number and contact person.

If you have purchased a portion of a property, commonly referred to as a SPLIT, be aware that depending on the time of year the purchase was made, the tax bill may be prepared in the original owner’s name, for the entire amount of taxes due on the property as a whole. In order for the tax collector to prepare separate bills, you as the property owner, must make a request in writing to the town or city assessor. The assessor will then create an apportionment sheet for the tax collector, and the tax collector will create corrected tax bills.

If you have questions about a tax bill you receive or do not receive, please call us!!! Don't assume that everything is OK, or that someone else is taking care of it. Delinquent property taxes cost you money, and could result in tax foreclosure if left unpaid. NOBODY WANTS THAT TO HAPPEN!!!!

School Property Tax Bills for all Central Schools and Geneva City School are mailed on or before September 1^st. The Canandaigua City School tax bills are mailed on or before October 1^st.
When paying your bill by mail, return the entire bill with payment, the school tax collector will then mark it paid, remove the stub on the bottom for internal bookkeeping purposes, and return the top portion to you as your receipt. Remember to check the box for Receipt Requested!

Central School districts in Ontario County do not allow installment payments. The full amount of the tax bill can be paid in September without interest. Interest charges vary between school districts if paid after September, so be sure to read the bill carefully. Shortly after November 1^st, the central schools can no longer collect taxes, (dates vary per school, read the bill carefully) and unpaid taxes are turned over to the County Treasurer. Taxes may be paid at the Treasurer's office for a short time in November, after that time period, unpaid school taxes are relevied onto the County/Town tax bills.

The Canandaigua City School allows for two equal installment payments. To participate in the two installment payment plan, the first payment must be made by October 31^st. The second installment can be made in November with 1% interest or in December with 3% interest. The school district cannot accept payments after December 31^st. All unpaid taxes are turned over to either the City Treasurer (for properties in the City of Canandaigua) or the County Treasurer (for properties outside the City of Canandaigua) for collection and enforcement.

The Geneva City School also allows for two equal installment payments. The first installment payment can be paid without interest by September 30. After September 30^th, the first installment payment can be made through the end of February, adding 1% interest each month after September. The second installment is due the end of February and includes no interest. The school district cannot accept payments after February 28^th. All unpaid taxes are turned over to either the County Treasurer or the City Treasurer for collection and enforcement.

COUNTY AND TOWN TAX BILLS are mailed to residents of all TOWNS in Ontario County by January 1^st. This bill will include taxes levied for County purposes, Town purposes and Special District purposes. Special District taxes may include levies for Fire Protection, water, sewer, or lighting districts. The bill may also include unpaid water or sewer charges, relevied unpaid school or village taxes, or exemption removal chargebacks.

The county/town tax bills can be paid in two equal installment payments, however the first payment must be made in January, during the interest free period. The second installment can be made in February with 1% interest added or March with 2% interest added.

The tax collector's are obligated by law to mail a reminder notice to all property owners whose taxes remain unpaid after the interest free period has expired. The notice must be mailed no later than March 16.

The town tax collectors cannot accept any more payments after March 31^st. After that date, unpaid taxes are turned over to the County Treasurer for collection and enforcement.

If you are paying by mail, remember to check the box to request a reciept, and return the entire bill with your payment.

CITY OF GENEVA residents will receive property tax bills for county and city purposes on or before January 1^st . The City of Geneva accepts two equal installment payments, the first being due by January 31^st with no interest. The second installment may be paid before May 31^st without interest. Please read the back of the bill carefully for full explanation of interest charges.

CITY OF CANANDAIGUA residents will receive property tax bills for county purposes only on or before January 1^st. The property tax bill for city purposes will be mailed on or before May 1^st. Installment payments are not accepted. Read the bill carefully for information about interest charges.

VILLAGE TAXES - There are eight villages within Ontario County that extend property taxes: Bloomfield, Rushville, Shortsville, Manchester, Clifton Springs, Phelps, Naples and Victor. The Village Tax bills are mailed on or before June 1^st and collected by the Villages through November 1^st. There are no installment payments allowed. June is the interest free month, taxes paid after June, add 1% interest each month. Read your tax bill carefully for the correct amount to pay. After November 1^st, unpaid taxes are turned over to the County Treasurer for re-levy on the County/Town tax bills. For more information, see the County Treasurer website.

If your taxes are paid by an escrow company, they are obligated to pay your taxes within the interest free period. If they do not, the interest cannot be charged back to you, it must be paid by the escrow company. The tax collector is obligated to mail a receipt to you within three weeks of payment by the escrow company. If you haven't received your paid receipt in a timely fashion, call the tax collector to verify that payment has been made.

You may be eligible for exemptions that may significantly reduce your tax bill. Contact the assessor in your municipality for information.

Although the Real Property Tax Office processes and prints property tax bills, we are not involved with tax collection or enforcement. For more information on tax collection and enforcement, visit the County Treasurer's Website.