Tax Collection
In New Jersey, the local municipality is the instrument for billing and collecting taxes due for school and county taxes. The South Amboy City Tax Bill includes amounts due for the general County Tax, County Open Space Tax, the Local School District Tax, Library Tax as well as the Local Municipal Purpose Tax. Only the Local Municipal Purpose tax is kept by South Amboy City for operational expenses. The State of New Jersey law requires the local municipality to pay 100% of the taxes due to the county and schools quarterly, the municipality absorbs any shortfall in the amount of taxes not collected because of delinquent properties.
New Jersey Property Taxpayer Bill of Rights
Tax Bills: are mailed after the Tax Rate is certified to the collector by the County Board of Taxation.
Interest: Interest will be charged at the rate of 8% on the first $1,500.00 of delinquency and 18% on any amount of delinquency over $1,500.00 until such time as the taxes are paid current. Per New Jersey Statutes Annotated 54:4-67, delinquent interest is taken first and the balance of the payment is applied to taxes.
Online Payments: Online bill pay will be available on www.southamboynj.gov. Log on and look for the Bill Pay Window - "Pay your Taxes and Municipal Charges Online" (right side of the homepage). Tax and sewer payments will be accepted.
Online Banking: To insure your payment is applied timely to your account verify your Block, Lot & Qual, account number and service address is correct before submitting payment.
Office Hours: Monday thru Friday 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
DROP BOX: For your convenience there is a drop box for overnight payments located in the foyer of city hall marked "Payments". Do not leave cash payments in the drop box. Available 24 hours - 7 days a week.
Receipts: When mailing your payments, you must include your entire tax bill along with a self-addressed stamped envelope in order to have a receipt mailed back to you.
Partial Payments: The Tax Collector's Office will accept partial payments on current year taxes providing there is no municipal tax lien on the property.
Mortgages: South Amboy City will mail an original Tax Bill to your mortgage company as long as the mortgage company has provided the Tax Collector's Office with their New Jersey Bank Code. If we do not have a New Jersey Bank Code for your mortgage company, the original tax bill will be mailed to the property owner and it will be their responsibility to forward the tax bill to the proper mortgage company and advise that company to notify the Tax Collector's Office in writing of their New Jersey Bank Code.
Change of Mailing Address: The South Amboy City Tax Collector's Office only accepts a change of address in written form signed by the property owner. Forms are available.
Notice to Sellers and New Owners: Tax Bills are given to New Owners at your settlement (closing) when the property is transferred from seller to buyer.
Failure to receive a tax bill does not relieve the owner from paying property taxes or delinquent interest on late payments per New Jersey Statutes Annotated 54:4-64. Please contact the Tax Collector's Office if you need a copy of your Tax Bill.
Tax Rebate Programs available through the State of New Jersey:
Property Tax Reimbursement Program a.k.a. Property Tax Freeze 1-800-882-6597
Homestead Benefit (for homeowners):
- To file applications online: www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/
- To file applications by phone: 1-877-658-2972
To ask questions: 1-888-238-1233 (8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except State holidays)
- In-person assistance at Taxation Regional Offices (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except State holidays) http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/ot1.shtml
- Online information: www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/homestead/geninf.shtml
Tax Appeals: Please note that you cannot appeal your taxes, only your assessment. If a South Amboy City Resident is dissatisfied with their tax assessment, there are two steps that can be taken. The first step is to call and talk with the Tax Assessor at 732-525-5969 on Mondays between 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. He will explain and hopefully resolve any problems you may have. If you are still not satisfied, the second step is an Appeal to the Middlesex County Board of Taxation. This may be done from February 1st to April 1st each year.
South Amboy City will hold an Online Accelerated Tax Lien Sale every December. Any property that has delinquent property taxes or other municipal charges unpaid after November 11th is subject to the Lien Sale. After November 11th and until the completion of the Tax Sale, the Tax Collector's office will only accept Certified Checks, Cashier Checks, Money Orders, or Cash for payments. The Tax Sale Notice will be published in The Home News Tribune which is a daily newspaper.
TAX SALE: Newly enacted P.L., c.320 (A-1619) revised various statutes concerning sale of taxes and other municipal liens. The law took effect on January 18, 2010. ALL DELINQUENT TAX, SEWER AND SUNDRY BALANCES WILL BE CERTIFIED NOVEMBER 11, FOR COLLECTION AT THE ANNUAL TAX SALE ON DECEMBER. *N.J.S.A. WAS AMENDED TO ALLOW THE COLLECTOR TO COLLECT THE ACTUAL COST SET FORTH IN N.J.S.A. 54:5-38 ON PRE-TAX SALE PAYMENTS. AFTER NOVEMBER 11, ADDITIONAL CHARGES ASSOCIATED WITH THE TAX SALE WILL ACCRUE. PAYMENTS RECEIVED AFTER 11/10/2016 MUST BE CASH, CERTIFIED CHECK OR MONEY ORDER ONLY!
NO PERSONAL OR BUSINESS CHECKS ACCEPTED BETWEEN NOVEMBER 11, to DECEMBER 31.
NEW JERSEY ASSOCIATION OF COUNTY TAX BOARDS
PROPERTY TAX DEDUCTION CLAIM BY VETERAN
SUPPLEMENTAL FORM FOR PEACEKEEPING MISSIONS & OPERATIONS
REAL PROPERTY TAX DEDUCTION SUPPLEMENTAL INCOME
CLAIM FOR REAL PROPERTY TAX DEDUCTION