MOTOR VEHICLE - FAQ

Motor vehicles are assessed as of October 1st and due in full July 1st of the following year. 

Q.   I sold this car - why am I getting a tax bill on it?

A.   If you have disposed of a vehicle prior to the end of the assessment period and not transferred license plates to another vehicle, you will need to provide proof of this to the Assessor's Office for a possible proration of this bill.  If you transferred the license plates to another vehicle, credits will automatically be issued against the newer vehicle.


Q.   I moved from Southbury to another town in Connecticut, why is Southbury sending me a motor vehicle tax bill?

A.   Taxes are assessed on October 1st, if your vehicle was still registered in Southbury at that time you will get a bill from Southbury and you will not get one from the town where you currently live until the following year.


Q.   I moved out of Connecticut, why is Southbury sending me a motor vehicle tax bill?

A.   If your vehicle was still registered in Connecticut on October 1st and you have since reregistered in another state you will need to provide information to the Assessor's Office to have the bill prorated for the time that you were in Connecticut.


Q.   I am being improperly billed for a motor vehicle, what should I do?

A.   Contact the Assessor's Office at (203)262-0674.  Do not ignore the bill.  Even if the vehicle has been sold, the plates returned to DMV, stolen and not recovered, declared a total loss or if you have moved from Southbury or from Connecticut.  If any of these situations applies, you may be entitled to a credit.


Q.   What is a supplemental motor vehicle bill?

A.   Vehicles registered between October 2, and the following July 31, will appear on a supplemental motor vehicle list provided to the assessor by the DMV.  The assessed value of each vehicle is prorated based upon the month of registration.  If you traded in a vehicle on a new vehicle, all taxes must be paid on the vehicle traded in.  You will receive a credit on the supplemental bill based on the total taxes billed on the original vehicle.  Supplemental motor vehicle bills are due in one installment on January 1.

Q.   When does my tax bill become delinquent?

A.  Taxes due July 1st must be paid no later than August 1st, taxes due January 1st must be paid no later than February 1st to avoid interest.  Interest is at the rate of 1.5% per month ($2.00 minimum) or any part thereof, from the original due date of the tax.   All delinquent motor vehicle taxes are reported to DMV.  You will not be able to renew or register any vehicle in your name until all taxes, interest and collection costs are paid in full.


Q.   I need to register my car and have delinquent taxes.  What do I need from the tax collector's office?

A.   All outstanding vehicle taxes associated with your name and/or your vin #, including taxes not yet delinquent, must be paid in full in order to obtain a motor vehicle release form from the tax collector's office.  Payment must be made by cash, money order or cashier's check in order to receive immediate release.  If paid by personal check, a release cannot be given for 10 business days after the tax collector deposits your check in the bank. 

Q.   How can tax payments be made?

A.  Tax payments can be made one of three ways:

1)  Mail your payment along with the correct payment stub to:  Tax Collector, P.O. BOX 467, Southbury, CT  06488. 

2)  In person, along with the correct payment stub, by coming to the Tax Collector's office during regular office hours.

3)  By credit card (for a fee) through Official Payment Corp. Payments can be made online or by phone:

            Pay online at Southbury's Online Tax System or

        By phone at the toll free number   1-877-309-4941.

Q.   What information do I need to know to pay by credit card?

A.   Credit Card Details:

  1.  The Town of Southbury has contracted with Official Payments Corp. for credit card payments.
  2.  Visa, Mastercard, American Express or Discover cards are accepted.
  3.  There is a fee of approximately 3% to pay by credit card (by phone or website).   
  4.  The Town does not accept credit or debit card payments in our office.

 

    When paying online, all required tax information is available for you to access.

    When paying via phone, you will be required to enter information using your telephone keypad. 
    You will need to obtain this information from your tax bill(s):   

 

List #/bill #  - is located in the upper left hand corner under the Tax Collector's address & directly above the mill rate box on the original bill.  The list/bill # is 13 places.

Unique Id # - is an eight (8) digit number located directly below the mill rate on the original bill.  This number is only required when paying real estate or personal property tax bills.