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Tax Office

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1. How is my tax calculated?

Assessment x Mill Rate = Tax

2. What is the new mill rate?

The new mill rate for the October 1, 2018 grand list is 38.05 on Real Estate, Personal Property and Motor Vehicle taxes. These mill rates become effective on bills due July 1, 2019. This means that for every $1,000 in assessed real estate value, you will pay $38.05 in taxes.

3. When is the tax bill due?

All real estate and business personal property tax bills (over $100) are due in two installments; first installment due July 1 and considered late with interest fees if received or postmarked after August 1. The second installment is due January 1 and considered late with interest fees if received or postmarked after February 1. All motor vehicle tax bills are due July 1 and are due in one installment. These bills can be paid during the entire month of July without any interest penalty and would only be considered late with interest fees added if received or postmarked after August 1.

Supplemental motor vehicle tax bills are mailed in late December and are also due in one installment on January 1. These bills can be paid during the entire month of January without any interest penalty and would only be considered late with interest fees added if received or postmarked after February 1.

4. What is taxable?

The State of Connecticut levies tax on motor vehicles (registered or unregistered vehicles including trailers) and business equipment, machinery, furniture and fixtures used to operate a business (both called personal property) and real estate (land and buildings).

5. What methods of payment do you accept?

We accept cash, money orders, cashier checks, business checks, or personal checks as forms of payment at the counter in the tax office. You may pay by MasterCard, Visa from home online at www.bristolct.gov.  A computer terminal is also available within the Tax Office for online payments.  Delinquent motor vehicle taxes that are at least six months old must be paid in cash, certified check or money order.

6. How can I pay my tax bill?

The most convenient and efficient way to pay is by check sent via the USPS. Taxpayers can also pay by credit card (MasterCard, Visa, and Discover) online from home at www.bristolct.gov. There is an additional fee of 2.95% if paying by credit card. Our office does accept cash payment. We do have restrictions of what we will accept for payment if your tax bill is delinquent six months or older.

7. How do I find what I paid for last year for IRS purposes?

Go to the Main page by clicking the Home Button on top of this page, under Citizen Help Center box, Pay online, select tax payments, enter last name (space) first name, click IRS payment records for 2019, then hit Search, on the next page place a check mark in the boxes that you want, hit VIEW IRS box. This will give you a listing of taxes paid in 2019.

8. What if I pay by mail and I want a receipt?

Your cancelled check will be your receipt. If an alternate receipt is desired, send the entire bill (including the taxpayer copy just as it was mailed to you) and a self addressed, stamped envelope with your payment. We will date stamp “paid” on your taxpayer copy and mail it back to you. On the second payment in January, again mail us the taxpayer copy along with the second payment due coupon and we will stamp the taxpayer copy for the second time and mail it back to you.Please retain the stamped copy for your records. This may be needed when filing state and government taxes each year.

9. Can I make out one check for all of my tax bills?

Yes, one check may be written out for all of your City of Bristol taxes. Include your copy of the bill received or write the list numbers on the check to identify specific accounts. Checks should be made payable to the Bristol Tax Collector. Please do not include water or sewer usage or another town's tax amounts with your payment to Bristol.

10. What happens if I pay late?

Tax payments must be received or US Postal Service postmarked by August 1 (first installment) or February 1 (second installment) to avoid the accrual of interest. If a payment is received and is postmarked after August 1, it will immediately be subject to 3% interest (1.5% for July and 1.5% for August). Interest will then continue to accrue at a rate of 1.5% per month (18% annually) and you will be billed for the balance due. The same would be true with the second payment of real estate and personal property taxes if received or postmarked after February 1. The interest will be added back to January and 3% interest will be added immediately on February 2.

11. Can the interest on my tax bill be waived?

No. The tax collector does not have the authority to waive interest of any kind for any reason.No exceptions will be made. This is per State Statute 12-146. As owners of property, as registered drivers or as business owners it is your responsibility to know what you have that is taxable and when it is due to the city.

12. What if I never receive a tax bill in the mail?

Failure to receive a tax bill does not exempt you from payment of tax and interest charges. If you do not receive a tax bill for which you are responsible, call our office immediately at (860) 584-6270 to request a copy or view your bill and pay online. FastPay System

13. What if I recently purchased a home in Bristol or recently paid off my mortgage?

You may be responsible for a tax payment (usually the second half payment that is due in January) and we do not bill in January for this payment. The entire bill is mailed in July to the owner of record on October 1 of the previous year. Or it was mailed to a mortgage company in July as requested. It is your responsibility to request a duplicate bill. It is also your responsibility to make sure the Assessor’s Office has a current mailing address if you have been in escrow previously for taxes.

14. How do I correct the mailing address on my tax bill?

If the mailing address is incorrect on your real estate or personal property bill, please contact the Assessor's Office at (860)-584-6240. If the mailing address is incorrect on your motor vehicle tax bill, please correct it on the registration for that vehicle and any other vehicle registrations at the CT Department of Motor Vehicles and contact our office so that we may update our files as well.

15. What if I am being billed improperly for a motor vehicle?

Contact the Assessor's Office at (860)-584-6240. Do not ignore the bill! You may be entitled to an adjustment. This PDF document entitled "What If My Vehicle Was..?" will also provide you with some useful information.

16. How can I avoid a real estate lien placed on my property?

Pay your real estate taxes on time. Real estate tax bills for property with an unpaid balance of any amount will have a lien placed on June 1, and that lien will be filed in the land records in the City Clerk's Office. This will become a permanent town record. Delinquent real estate taxes can be paid with a personal check but any liens involved will only be released after payment in full and 15 business days have passed.

17. How can I avoid a “boot” on my vehicle?

Pay your motor vehicle taxes on time. In an attempt to collect outstanding motor vehicle taxes owed, the City may contract with outside vendors which will provide an additional means for the city to enforce collections by performing daily sweeps of the city to find tax scofflaws and reporting delinquencies to Collection Agencies.  Additional fees will be incurred.  Any delinquent payments made shall be in the form of cash, money order or bank check in person at the counter. Credit card payments are only accepted online, a processing fee will be charged by Peoples Bank. No personal checks will be accepted.