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1. I think my motor vehicle assessment is wrong! What happened?

 

Many Norwalk taxpayers have reached out with questions about their motor vehicle assessments.  Every year, the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles provides the Assessor's Office a list of all motor vehicles within our jurisdiction that are subject to taxation.  The DMV assigns assessed values to the majority of vehicles on that list, but there is a portion of the list that is unpriced.   It is up to the Assessor's Office to assign assessed values to those unpriced vehicles, using State approved appraisal guides, such as the JD Power Pricing Guide.  This year, after the tax bills were issued, it was brought to the City's attention that some of these previously unpriced vehicles were incorrectly assessed.  

As of September 8, 2023, all vehicles that were incorrectly assessed have been re-assessed.  The City is mailing revised / corrected tax bills to all taxpayers who were affected.  Many taxpayers have already received corrected bills in the mail; many have already paid their revised bills, since July.  Taxpayers whose bills have been adjusted are being given a 30 day grace period from the day the bill was mailed in which to pay without interest. 

The majority of Norwalk taxpayers have NOT been impacted, as the majority of vehicles were properly assessed.  Nonetheless, the value of many motor vehicles has increased, and this has added to the confusion.  While taxpayers might have expected their vehicles to decrease in value from one year to the next, that has not necessarily been the case in this past year, and many vehicles have actually increased in value.  

Please direct questions concerning your assessment to the Assessor's Office.  

If you are expecting to receive a corrected bill in the mail, it will be clearly marked as a Revised Motor Vehicle Tax Bill.   You can click the link below to view a sample: 

Revised / Adjusted motor vehicle bill: Sept. 2023

Some bills were issued directly from the Tax Collector's Office.   They are black and white, and stamped in red to note the bill is a revised tax bill; these bills also bear a blue and red stamp, indicating the last day to pay.   Other bills were mailed separately on September 8, 2023.  These bills have the Norwalk brand in color, and bear a pay-by date of October 10, 2023.  (See link above.)

Bills that were mailed on September 8 include an explanatory letter from the Assessor's Office, in addition to the revised tax bill. 

Letter Regarding Adjusted /Revised Motor Vehicle Tax Bills: Sept. 2023

Some taxpayers overpaid; some taxpayers underpaid.  Some taxpayers will still owe a balance due, which should be paid by October 10, 2023; other taxpayers are entitled to receive a credit or a refund.   Taxpayers with questions about what they owe, paid, or how to make payment should reach out to the Tax Collector's Office.   Taxpayers with questions about their motor vehicle assessments or how their assessments were determined should reach out to the Assessor's Office.  

 

2. What do I need from the tax collector's office in order to register my car?

IMPORTANT MESSAGE FOR DMV CLEARANCE: If you pay online or over the telephone today (using a credit, debit or ATM card) you will NOT be cleared for DMV for at least TWO BUSINESS DAYS.   If you use an E check for delinquent motor vehicle taxes, you may need to wait several WEEKS for clearance. 

Our office is open for in person payments and inquiries from 8:30 am - 4 pm. 

If you owe back motor vehicle taxes to any Connecticut municipality, you will be unable to renew ANY vehicle, snowmobile, or vessel registrations with the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), per Connecticut General Statute 14-33.  Past due motor vehicle taxes must be paid in full by cash, cashiers’ check, money order, MasterCard, VISA, debit card, or ATM card in order to receive DMV clearance.  You also must pay a fee of $5 per vehicle, per year in order to be cleared to register at the DMV. 

If you pay with an ‘E Check’, you must provide proof your check has cleared your bank before receiving clearance. All DMV clearances are now processed electronically, online, overnight. 

The Tax Collector’s Office is open for in person payments, Monday through Friday from 8:30 am - 4:00 pm.  If you pay your back taxes in person today, your clearance will usually be processed overnight, and you would be clear to register at DMV the following business day.  

The best way to avoid problems and compliance issues with the DMV is to pay your motor vehicle taxes on time, when they are due.  

If you need a clearance today:  1.) If we are able to assist you, we can tell you what you owe;  2.) you can pay at our window, go on line, or call our payment line and make your payment;  3.) then, you can call us back, we can verify your payment, and;  4.) if we are able to access the DMV system, we can clear you immediately (today).  We will charge you an additional non-refundable fee of $20, payable to the City of Norwalk, for "Express" DMV clearance.   This non-refundable fee is added only if you request immediate clearance, and only if we are able to provide it to you.  This service may not always be available depending on our staffing, and because the DMV online system may not always be accessible.  We are absolutely committed to helping you with an immediate clearance as long as we are able to do so. 

If you can wait a few days:  You can pay your motor vehicle taxes online or by telephone, and you will be cleared within two or three business days.  You must allow at least two business days for the steps that need to be taken to process your payment (first) and submit clearance to DMV (second). 

All outstanding vehicle taxes in your name, including taxes not yet delinquent, must be paid in full for a release to be issued.  

The state of Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles encourages taxpayers to transact business online.  Access the Department of Motor Vehicles online from the link on the tax collector’s home page.  You can check compliance status (property taxes, insurance, emissions, etc.), renew or cancel license plates, change information DMV has on file for you or your vehicles, and more.

If you have questions about what you owe, please contact the tax collector’s office at (203) 854-7731 or by fax at (203) 854-7770.  You may also access your property tax records online by clicking the E Tax Bill link.   During COVID-19, our website is updated daily.  

View additional methods for paying your taxes.

3. I'm being improperly billed for my car. What do I do?

If you think are being billed improperly for a motor vehicle you MUST contact the Assessor’s Office.  The Tax Collector’s Office CANNOT make adjustments for you.  This is handled by a different division.  Please do not come to our payment window to attempt to deal with this issue.  Our staff will NOT be able to help you with this and will direct you to the office next door.   

You MUST contact the Assessor’s Office at (203) 854-7888, by fax at (203) 854-7986, or in person at the Assessor’s Office in city hall, during their business hours, which may not be the same as the Tax Collector's hours, depending on staffing.   Please do not ignore your bill.   Even if your vehicle has been:

• Sold and registration (plates) cancelled
• Stolen and not recovered
• Declared a total loss
• Moved from Norwalk, or from Connecticut

If any of these situations applies to you, you may be entitled to a credit.  Contact the assessor’s office for information regarding the acceptable forms of proof for the issuance of a credit and bill adjustment. Two forms of written proof are required, and you must apply for the credit within a limited time.  

If you got rid of one car, and put the license plates from that vehicle ONTO ANOTHER CAR:  You will not have to apply for a credit; it will be handled automatically.  You were responsible for paying the bill on the "old" vehicle (July 2023); AND, you should receive (in December 2023) a pro-rated bill on the replacement vehicle ("new" vehicle) with credit for what you paid (July /August 2023) on the "old" vehicle.  NOTE: This occurs ONLY IF you put the same plates onto the newer vehicle.

If you got rid of a car, and cancelled the registration, or did not put those plates onto another car, you must contact the assessor's office for information regarding acceptable forms of proof for the issuance of a credit and bill adjustment. (See above.)

Please note that you may have to present your paperwork and then wait up to several days for a response from city staff.  This CANNOT be handled by the tax collector’s staff.  You will be referred to the Assessor’s Office.

4. What is the best way to pay my tax bill or statement?

The easiest, most convenient, most economical, and most reliable way to make your tax payment is by E Check (Electronic Check / ACH payment).  This can be done online or over the telephone.  There is a modest charge of  $1.25 for paying by E Check.  No actual check writing; no stamp, trips to the mailbox, no paper.  Avoid the anxiety and delay of mailing your payment.  The payment is secure and timely.   The fee for an E Check is usually less than the fees incurred when using a credit, debit or ATM card to pay.   Go to the following link: https://www.mytaxbill.gov/inet/bill/home.do?town=norwalk   or call (203) 318-9523.  

  The tax collector’s office is open for in person transactions, with no appointment necessary, from 8:30 am - 4:00 pm.  Payments may be made by credit card, debit card, ATM card, check, money order, or cash.  There is no requirement to wear a mask in Norwalk City Hall although many employees and visitors still do.   If you have questions about the mask policy or other COVID-19 related policies, please contact the Mayor's Office or refer to the Mayor's COVID-19 updates.   

You may still make your payment by mail.   A courtesy reply envelope is included with your tax bill if you wish to pay by mail, or you may send your payment to:  Tax Collector, City of Norwalk, PO Box 5530, South Norwalk CT   06856.  Be sure to write your bill numbers on your check. Bill numbers are shown on your payment coupons.   If you wish to have a receipt returned to you, please send both payment coupons and a self-addressed, stamped envelope with your payment.  You may expect to receive a receipt back within a few days to weeks.   We will not send back your receipt if you fail to include a self-addressed, stamped envelope.  Payments legibly postmarked by the U.S. Postal Service on or before Monday, August 7, 2023, were considered on time, regardless of when they were received by the Tax Collector’s office. There was an extended grace period this year, because tax bills were mailed on July 3 - 7.  For your own benefit, obtain a ‘receipt of mailing’ from the U.S. Postal Service when mailing your payment if you choose to mail your payment close to the deadline.

Pay your bill anytime, anywhere - online or telephone payments with a credit, debit, or ATM card.   As noted above, for a modest fee of $1.25, you may pay by ACH payment (E Check) from our website or by phone.  This affords you the certainty that your payment has been received, eliminates anxiety and worry about mail delivery, eliminates the burden of going to city hall or one of the local banks to pay in person, and allows you to process the transaction at a time that is convenient to you.  

There are additional non-refundable fees charged by our payment provider, Invoice Cloud, for securely processing credit, debit and ATM card payments.  Fees are an additional 2.99% (as of March, 2023) of the total, and are always disclosed up front.  

To pay by credit, debit, or ATM card, or by E Check, call (203) 318-9523,  or go to :    https://www.mytaxbill.gov/inet/bill/home.do?town=norwalk

Taxpayers are able pay their tax bills in person at area banks from now through August 7, 2023.  You do not have to be a customer of the bank in order to pay there, and there is no charge to you for this service.  This service is provided subject to the bank branches’ ability to transact business due to COVID-19; service may be limited to drive through service, or there may be other limitations, depending on the branch.  This option is available only through the last day to pay without interest.  A list of participating bank branches is found elsewhere on this website.  You will receive a receipt from the bank at the time you make your payment.  You must bring your entire tax bill with you for this purpose.  We are grateful to the local banks who partner with the City to provide this service to our mutual customers. 

View additional methods for paying your taxes.

5. What do I owe on a delinquent tax bill?

 The first installment was due on July 1, 2023.  The second installment is due on January 1, 2024.  Taxpayers have a one month grace period in which to pay without interest.

Interest is charged on all past due payments regardless of the reason at the rate of 1.5% per month from the due date (July 1 or January 1).  A portion of a month is considered a full month, and interest is not charged by the day, but by the month.    

2021 grand list supplemental motor vehicle bills were issued late, with an extended due date and payment period.  The last day to pay (only) those bills was April 1, 2023.  These bills were for motor vehicles newly registered between October 2, 2021 and August 31, 2022 only.   They were sent in February 2023, and were due March 1, 2023.  Other bills were not affected by this delayed mailing.  

Please check with a tax collector's office staff member if you have any questions.

Demand notices for the first installment are sent in September, and again in March for the second installment.   Lien continuing certificates are filed in March.

Taxpayers making payment on past due bills should contact the tax collector’s office, or check the city website, before making their payment, to determine exactly what they owe.  

There is an additional charge of $24 to release a lien filed on applicable tax bills for payments received after lien certificates are filed.  There are additional charges to release motor vehicles for clearance at the DMV.  There are collection agency fees on motor vehicle bills that have been turned over to a collection agency.  

Tax sales of tax delinquent property are usually held every two years.  The most recent tax sale was held on Monday, October 18, 2021 and the deadline to redeem sold properties was April 18, 2022.   Please refer to the tax sale link on this site for important updates and other information. 

Interest is charged on all late payments, regardless of the reason.  

As owners of property, taxpayers are responsible for paying taxes when they are due, regardless of whether or not a tax bill is received in the mail.  For additional information about these specifics, please refer to the tax collector’s legal notices published on the tax collector’s home page.  We absolutely do not waive interest charges or fees for any reason.  This is in accordance with state law.