Show All Answers

1. When are taxes due?

Taxes are due on the first day of February, May, August and November.

2. Is there a grace period?

Yes, the Township allows 10 calendar days of grace. If the tenth day falls on a holiday or weekend, the grace period is extended to the next business day. During August only, the grace period may be extended beyond the 10th of August. You will be notified on the face of the tax bill of the last day to pay August taxes.

3. When will I receive a new tax bill?

Tax bills are mailed in July. Each bill contains 4 tear off stubs for the 3rd and 4th quarters of the current year, and the 1st and 2nd quarters of the next year. Original bills are mailed to those who pay their own taxes, banks and mortgage companies.

Property owners who pay their taxes through their mortgage company receive advice copies of the tax bill. This advice copy can be used to make tax payments if a mortgage has been paid off by the property owner. Please read both the front and back of the bill.

If improvements to the property have been completed prior to October 1st of the tax year, a second tax billing will be made to the owners of that property. The Assessor will notify you of the additional assessed value and what time period it covers. The amount of taxes due for November, February and May will be the sum of the two bills. For questions, contact the Tax Assessor.

4. How can I make payment?

Taxes can be paid with cash, personal or certified checks, and money orders. You may bring in your payment, use the drop box, or mail the payment. If you are using the drop box, be aware that the payment will not be considered received until the next business day. If you are mailing, please give it at least 3-5 days to reach us. Postmarks are not accepted. If you use your bank’s in-line payment feature, be aware that a check is cut and mailed to us by the bank. Give at least 7-10 days for this process.

Once the tax sale process has begun, only cash, certified checks, or money orders will be accepted. If you require a receipt, please send the entire bill back with your payment, along with a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Your bill will be receipted and returned to you.

Effective on or about May 15, 2010, on-line payments will be accepted for ACH and credit cards. The fees associated with using this feature do not go to the Township; they are paid to the site provider. If you are listed for tax sale, you may not use this system after the 50th day preceding the tax sale date. (NJSA 5:30-9.2) Pay taxes and sewer bills online.

5. How do I change my address?

All address changes must be made in writing. They may be included with your payment, emailed to mkennedy@hopewelltwp.org, faxed to 609-737-1232, delivered to the Tax Collector's office in the Municipal Building during office hours, or dropped in the dropbox after hours. Phone changes can not be processed. 

6. I need to change my mortgage information, what should I do?

All requests to change a mortgage provider must be made in writing. If you are escrowing for taxes with a mortgage company, we need an Initial Authorization From the mortgage company. This form, when signed by you, authorizes us to send your tax bill to the mortgage company. If you have paid off your mortgage and are now making payments directly to the Township, we need a signed, written notice to stop sending the original bills to the mortgage company.

Initial Authorization Form

7. How do I pay off a lien?

You must request in writing to the Collector a statement of redemption. At no time should you approach the lien holder. The request must include the date that you anticipate making payment and a statement of your legal interest in the property. The Collector will provide you with a payoff figure that is computed to the next Committee meeting date. You may be required to provide proof of identity: New Jersey Tax Sale Law only allows "interested parties" the right to redeem.

Upon receipt of the redemption figure, payment must be made at least one week prior to the scheduled Committee meeting. The only accepted forms of payment are cash, certified check, or money order. The Collector will notify the Lien Holder that payment has been received, and request the lien certificate from the holder. This certificate will be forwarded to you; you will then have the lien removed at the County.

For more information, view Municipal Lien Process.

8. My taxes are too high, what can I do?

Taxes are determined by applying the Township tax rate to the assessed value of your property. Every property in the Township pays the same tax rate. Property values, however, are unique to each property. To lower your tax exposure, you need to lower the assessed value. In order to appeal, you must file by April 1, and taxes must be current through the first quarter of the year. The Office of the Tax Assessor can help you file your appeal. Contact Tax Assessor.

9. What programs are available to reduce taxes?

The State of New Jersey offers two deductions at the local level; one for Seniors and Disabled citizens, and one for Veterans. Each deduction reduces taxes by $250.00 per year. There is also an exemption for disabled Veterans, where the disability was caused by their service in the Armed Forces.

For more information, view Tax Benefits.

10. How are taxes computed?

The total tax levy to be collected is the sum of the local budget and the budgets of the School board, County, Fire Districts, and Open Space programs. This figure is divided by the total assessments in the Township to produce the tax rate. That tax rate is then applied to individual assessments.

The first half of your tax bill is estimated, and equal to one-half of the total prior year taxes. It is estimated because the rate cannot be computed until all budgets have been approved; that occurs in June. The second half tax bill is computed by applying the new tax rate to the current year assessment, then deducting the amount billed in the first half.

11. What is the interest rate on late payments?

NJSA 54:4-67 states that if payment is not received by the end of business hours on the 10th day of the grace period, interest is to be charged. Interest is 8% per annum on the first $1,500.00 of delinquency; balances in excess of $1,500.00 have an interest rate of 18% per annum. This 18% rate remains in place until the taxes are brought current. Interest is charged from the 1st of the month that the payment is due, or the date of last payment.

In addition, if the total balance (tax and interest) exceeds $10,000.00 on December 31, a 6% penalty shall be added to the amount due the Township.

Under this statute, the collector must have physical possession of the payment; no postmarks are accepted. Also, any payment placed in the Township drop box is considered as received the next business day. For questions, call the Tax Collector.

12. I don’t have a tax bill, why am I charged interest?

NJSA 54:4-64 states that failure to receive a bill does not invalidate the tax due; it is the property owner’s responsibility to ascertain from the proper official (Tax Collector) the amount due. If you have recently purchased the property, or lost your bill, you should call the Tax Collector to obtain the amount due, and request a copy of the bill.

Call Tax Collector.

13. What is a tax sale? Can I buy property at the tax sale?

Delinquent prior year taxes, utility charges and other Township charges will be sold to the highest bidder in the form of liens. The Township holds an annual tax sale for those properties delinquent for the prior year.

The State requires that any property listed for tax sale be publicly published and posted in the Township. The costs of publication and sale are added to the amount to be sold. Upon the sale of these liens, the purchasers (Lien Holders) may pay current year delinquencies, and add those balances to the lien. Lien Holders must wait two years before they can begin to foreclose a property. The property owner may redeem the lien at any time prior to foreclosure, through the Office of the Tax Collector.

The Township does not sell properties for unpaid taxes. To obtain more information on the tax sale process, view Municipal Lien Process.