Homeownership in the US comes with many financial responsibilities, like paying your mortgage, utility bills, and finally, your annual property taxes. While paying property tax is an important part of owning a home, it can be tough to figure out how much you owe, when and where you should pay, and what these taxes are being used for.

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Property tax 101

First things first—it’s important to understand what property taxes are before you pay. Here’s what you need to know:

Local governments pay forpublic services like education, emergency services, public libraries, and law enforcement with property taxes

Anyone who owns a home in a community’s jurisdiction pays property tax

Property taxes typically apply to things like land, buildings, and homes, otherwise known as real property

A tax assessor will review your property’s market value and your local tax rate to determine your taxes

Property taxes vary depending on market conditions and local budgets

MORE:

How to deduct a car accident from your taxes

What is the property tax rate in Suffolk County?

Suffolk County’s average tax rate is 1.7% of a property’s assessed market value, which is higher than New York’s average property tax rate of 1.23%.

You can expect to pay around $7,192 in property taxes per year based on the Suffolk County average.

How Suffolk County property taxes are determined

Suffolk County property taxes apply to each of the county’s taxing districts, like school boards, cities, and other municipalities, and are determined based on the value of your home and the cost of specific public services that apply to your property.

Each of Suffolk County’s district boards calculates a budget for public services and levies property taxes to fit this budget. Once the budget is set, the

Suffolk County Comptroller

determines a tax rate for each district.

Then, your municipal

Town Assessor

appraises your property based on a fair valuation of the property market in your area. Your property tax in Suffolk County will be 1.7% of this valuation on average.

If you’d like to dispute your appraisal, you or your attorney can fill out

Form RP-524, Complaint on Real Property Assessment

. Then, submit the form to your local assessor or the Suffolk County Board of Review.

Suffolk County also provides a variety of tax exemptions for many different people and situations. Check out

Suffolk County’s helpful links for residents page

to learn more about tax exemptions and financial aid programs.

What do Suffolk County property taxes pay for?

Suffolk County collects property taxes from homeowners to fund a variety of services. Depending on where your home is, here are a few services your Suffolk County property taxes fund:

Transportation

Roads and highways

Law enforcement

Public health

Building safety

Public libraries

K-12 and community education

Solid waste

Fire rescue

Public housing

Sewer and stormwater management

Public parks

MORE:

How to decipher home insurance quotes

How to pay property taxes in Suffolk County

The Suffolk County Receiver mails out property tax notices in mid-December each year. You have from December 1 to May 31 to pay with the option of paying in two installments. If you’re paying in two installments, the first half is due by January 10. After January 10, 1% per month interest is charged until May 31. You can pay the second half without interest up to May 31.

Suffolk County provides two convenient ways to pay your property taxes, so you can choose the option that’s best for you.

Pay online: You can use a credit card or e-check to pay your property taxes online via

Suffolk County’s online payment portal.

There’s a 2.6% transaction fee for credit cards and a flat fee of $1.50 if you’re using an e-check. Note that your payment won’t be reflected until 24-72 hours after your transaction.

Pay by mail: You mail your payment to this address: Suffolk County Comptroller, 330 Center Drive Riverhead, NY 11901.

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Do I still have to pay my property taxes if I didn’t receive a notice by mail?

Yes! It’s your responsibility to obtain your notice and pay your bill on time, even if you didn’t receive it in the mail. If you haven’t received a bill, call the Suffolk County Comptroller at 631-853-5040.

What period do my current property taxes cover?

In Suffolk County, your property taxes cover expenses from December 1 to November 30 of the next year.

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