Tax Office
Frequently Asked Questions about Municipal Property Tax
Q. When are taxes due and when will I receive my bill?
A. Taxes are due quarterly, February 1, May 1, August 1, and November 1. Bills are mailed annually in July. The annual bill includes four payment stubs for 3rd and 4th Quarters of the current year and 1st and 2nd Quarters of the subsequent year.
Q. Where should tax payments be sent and what payment methods are accepted?
A. Payments by check can be made by mail or in the office. Checks should be made payable to Chester Borough. To pay in cash please visit the office. To avoid payment errors, please submit the current quarter's stub with your payment. Generally you canceled check is your receipt. If you wish a stamped receipt, you may forward the entire tax bill with a SAS envelope. The top half of the bill will be receipted and reurned to you. Address mail to Chester Borough Tax Collector, 300 Main Street, Chester NJ 07930.
Q. How can I get a copy of my tax bill?
A. To receive a duplicate bill, just send a note or email requesting a duplicate bill and authorizing us to mail future bills and notices to you. Remember to include your mailing address. There is $5.00 fee for duplicate tax bills.
Q. When is interest charged?
A. There is a ten-day interest free grace period. Interest is charged on the 11th of the month and is calculated from the due date to the payment date. The payment date is the day payment is received in the office, rather than the postmark date.
Q. What is a Tax Sale?
A. Tax Sales are held for prior year delinquent charges (all Municipal charges may be sold). An investor pays the Borough of Chester the delinquent amount and receives a Certificate of Sale. After 2 years the Investor may start Foreclosure proceedings. An investor also has the right to pay any current delinquency. These balances then get added to the Certificate and added to the amount to redeem.
Q. When are delinquencies placed on the tax sale list and published in the paper?
A. All properties with a tax, sewer delinquency or any other municipal charge from the prior year are required to be placed on the tax sale list. For example, all delinquencies from 2004 are placed on the tax sale list that is compiled in 2005.
Q. How do tax delinquencies affect the tax rate?
A. The total prior year delinquence is a factor in calculating the current year's tax rate, therefore it is significant for taxes to be paid up-to-date prior to the end of the year.
Q.When are sewer bills due?
A. Sewer Bills are generally mailed out in the last month of the calendar quarter, ie. March 1, June 1, September 1, and December 1.
Q. Where can I purchase solid waste stickers?
A. Solid Waste Stickers can be purchased at the Tax Office in Borough Hall OR at the UPS store in the Rite Aid Plaza.
Q. Where Can I leave a payment?
A. The only acceptable place to leave a payment is with the Tax Collector to assure prompt posting to your account. However, you may leave a payment with the Chief Financial Officer or the Borough Administrator if the Tax Office is closed. Please make sure the payment is stamped with the date you dropped it off. DO NOT LEAVE A PAYMENT UNDER THE DOOR!!
New Jersey Property Tax Relief Programs
The following is a brief overview of tax relief programs that are sponsored by the State. For more information and forms, visit the NJ State online web site , or write NJ Division of Taxation, Information and Publication Branch, PO Box 900, Trenton, NJ 08695-0900.
PROPERTY TAX REIMBURSEMENT
Who is eligible:
Homeowners age 65 or older or receiving Federal Social Security disability benefits, who pay property taxes on their principal residence in New Jersey. Applicants must be NJ residents for as least the past 10 years, and lived in the home for which reimbursement is claimed for at least the last 3 years, and must meet certain income limits.
When to file:
By June 1 or extended deadline.
HOMESTEAD REBATE
Who is eligible:
New Jersey homeowners and tenants who meet income and residency requirements.
When to file:
Homeowners will receive Homestead rebate applications by mail in April. Homestead Tenant rebate applications, Form TR-1040, can be found in the State income tax return booklet.
SENIOR CITIZEN DECUCTION
Who is eligible:
Homeowners age 65 or older or disabled who meet certain income and residency requirements. Annual income, exclusive of Social Security benefits, must not exceed $10,000.
When to file:
This benefit is administered by the municipal Collector or Assessor and can be filed anytime.
VETERAN DEDUCTION
Who is eligible:
Qualified war veterans and their unmarried surviving spouses.
When to file:
This benefit is administered by the municipal Collector or Assessor and can be filed anytime.