HawthorneVillager.com

I'm going to have to do a mini forensic audit of my bills and bank statements, but a rough outline of the situation follows (numbers are rounded slightly for clarity)

2008 Property Tax: $1500

This entire amount was paid in August 2008.

2009 Property Tax:

In February of 2009, we paid $550, but were $5 short in the account that the money came from so the prepayment was declined.

Then, in March of 2009 we got a notice of Tax Arrears:



2009 Taxes Levied: $1100
Taxes Past Due: $550
Interest and Penalties: $11

2008 Taxes Levied: $1500
Taxes Past Due: $0


Fine, we were behind, we got charged the $11, fair enough. We paid the $560 in April 2009

Then, just now (August) we get another bill


2009 Taxes Levied: $2250
Taxes Past Due: $31
Interest and Penalties: 39 cents... plus the $5 screw you fee

2008 Taxes Levied: $2100
Taxes Past Due: $620
Interest: $8


Now, the question is, if we owed nothing for 2008 as of March of 2009, how did we suddenly owe $620 for 2008 as of August 2009? Also, how did our levied taxes suddenly jump through the roof without anyone telling us?

I figure there must be something that I am missing, since I cannot imagine the city messing things up that badly, so what am I overlooking?

Sorry to hijack the thread, but speaking of property tax, anyone else a little annoyed at the fact that in the monthly withdrawel program we have to pay twice in November once being the last payment for 2009 and the second being the first payment of 2010? I have no problem with the town going to a 12 month program from their current 10 month one, but why not run it from Jan-Dec and have the 2010 first payments actually start and finish in 2010? Just seems unfair that we have to pay twice in one month and stupid that they run it from Nov-Oct.

Hi Knave,

Property taxes of newly built homes are ALWAYS lower than normal since they are based on pre-closing valuations.

Your lawyer should have told you to expect a Supplementary Tax Bill that goes along with an assessment.
That means at some point in the future (sometimes 1-2 years after closing) they come back and say.. ok, your house was actually worth $300,000, NOT the $200,000 wood frame that was up when we last assessed.)
And you now owe back taxes.

These supplementary tax bills are absolutely normal - a warning to all you new homeowners,... if your taxes look low (less than 1% of the house price), you WILL get hit swith a supplementary bill down the road.
If you pay 300k for your house, you might as well budget for about $3,000 in taxes every year, REGARDLESS of what your first few bills say.

Google Supplementary Tax Bill for more info.

Absolutely - arrange it with your bank - they'll take the money out with your mortgage payments, keep in in a tax acount, and pay the bills for you.
They will arrange all the paperwork with the town as well!