Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
If you need the amount of taxes you paid in a certain calendar year for income tax purposes you can either obtain the information by following the attached step-by-step directions.
Attachment
Attachment
Town of Ridgefield Budget
July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026
The Town of Ridgefield mill rate for fiscal 2025 - 2026 has been set at 27.39. A total budget of $174,811,796 was approved at referendum for the fiscal year. $119,796,000 will support the operation of our education system. The balance is allocated for General Government, Police, Fire, Public Works, Parks and Recreation, Debt Service and Library. Of the total funds required, approximately 91.1% will come from the collection of current and delinquent taxes. The balance comes from state government, licenses & permits, charges for services and interest from investments.
July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026
The Town of Ridgefield mill rate for fiscal 2025 - 2026 has been set at 27.39. A total budget of $174,811,796 was approved at referendum for the fiscal year. $119,796,000 will support the operation of our education system. The balance is allocated for General Government, Police, Fire, Public Works, Parks and Recreation, Debt Service and Library. Of the total funds required, approximately 91.1% will come from the collection of current and delinquent taxes. The balance comes from state government, licenses & permits, charges for services and interest from investments.
The Grand Levy is the amount of revenue in the Annual Town Budget, which must be raised by the property tax. The balance required is received from fees, state assistance and miscellaneous revenue. The Grand List is a listing of all taxable properties located within the Town on October 1 of the Grand list year. The property tax rate is expressed in mills or thousandths of a dollar. A tax rate (mill rate) of 27.39 mills is equivalent to $27.39 of taxes per $1,000 of assessed value. The tax rate is determined by dividing the Grand Levy by the Grand List.
- You may pay all taxes in person by coming to the Tax Collector's Office in the Town Hall at 400 Main Street during our regular office hours of 8:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday. In addition, the Tax Office is open on the Saturday before the last day to pay from 9:00 a.m. to noon and on the last day to pay without penalty until 7:00 p.m.
- You may also mail your tax payment to: Tax Collector, PO Box 299, Ridgefield, CT 06877-0299. If you want a receipt please send a stamped self-addressed envelope. However, you can use your cancelled check as a receipt. Make checks payable to: "Tax Collector, Town of Ridgefield".
- You may pay by credit or debit card for a fee online or by phone at 844-200-2032.
- You may pay your bills online.
When paying bills online do NOT wait until the last day to pay. The Town of Ridgefield is not responsible for website failure, power failure or internet errors.
Taxes must be paid within one month of the due date to avoid interest or penalty. Delinquent Taxes are subject to interest at the rate of 1 1/2 % per month or part thereof ($2.00 minimum), from the original due date of the tax. In addition to the interest, all lien fees on real estate and collection costs on motor vehicle and personal property are the obligation of the taxpayer. All delinquent Motor Vehicle taxes are reported to the Department of Motor Vehicles. You will not be able to register any vehicle in your name, until all taxes, interest and collection costs are paid in full. In order to obtain a release for registration, all delinquent Motor Vehicle taxes must be paid in cash, certified check, bank check or money order.
Vehicles registered between October 2, and the following July 31, will appear on a "Supplemental Motor Vehicle List" provided to the Tax Assessor by the Dept. of Motor Vehicles. The assessed value of each "Supplemental" vehicle is prorated based on the month of registration. Supplemental Motor Vehicle bills are due in one installment on January 1.
If you traded in a vehicle for a new vehicle and transferred the plates, all taxes must be paid on the original vehicle and a credit will be given on the supplemental motor vehicle bill for the new vehicle.
If you traded in a vehicle for a new vehicle and transferred the plates, all taxes must be paid on the original vehicle and a credit will be given on the supplemental motor vehicle bill for the new vehicle.
Property tax bills are sent out in late June of each year for the entire fiscal year. If payments are due quarterly then four payment stubs are included. No other bill will be sent.
Failure to receive a tax bill does not exempt taxes or interest. You are responsible for obtaining your tax bill and paying the taxes on time. No tax collector has the right to waive interest. (State Statutes 12-130, 12-142, 12-146)
If you don't receive a tax bill by the end of the first week in July please contact the Tax Office so we can supply you with a replacement.
- Real Estate - tax bills totaling $100 or less for Real Property are paid in one installment due July 1. Bills greater than $100 are due in quarterly installments on July 1, October 1, January 1 and April 1. If you sold your real estate and receive a tax bill, please return it to the Tax Office.
- Personal Property - tax bills of $100 or less are paid in one installment due July 1. Bills greater than $100 are due in quarterly installments on July 1, October 1, January 1 and April 1.
- Motor Vehicles - taxes are due in a single installment due July 1. If you no longer own the motor vehicle on which the tax bill is based, please contact the Tax Assessor's office. Remember that when you receive your tax bill, nine months of the year covered by the bill have already passed.
Failure to receive a tax bill does not exempt taxes or interest. You are responsible for obtaining your tax bill and paying the taxes on time. No tax collector has the right to waive interest. (State Statutes 12-130, 12-142, 12-146)
If you don't receive a tax bill by the end of the first week in July please contact the Tax Office so we can supply you with a replacement.
If you refinance or payoff your mortgage and are now responsible for paying the taxes on your property please contact the Tax Collector's office immediately, so a Real Estate tax bill can be mailed to you.
Three types of property are assessed and subject to taxes: Real Estate, Motor Vehicles and Personal Property.
- Real Estate - any land or buildings you own fall under this category.
- Motor Vehicles - registered motorized or non-motorized vehicles, such as cars, trucks, motorcycles and trailers.
- Personal Property - is a general category made up of machinery, equipment, furniture and fixtures, either owned or leased by business and industry as well as Motor Vehicles that are garaged but not registered in the State of Connecticut.
You may be entitled to a credit or refund, if your vehicle is sold and not replaced, destroyed, stolen or removed from Connecticut and registered in another state. Your tax bill will be prorated by the Tax Assessor's office based on the month in which it was disposed. A request for adjustment must be made to the Tax Assessor's Office and written documentation regarding the disposal must be provided. Application for adjustment should be made as soon as the vehicle is disposed of since there is a statutory time limit on motor vehicle adjustments. Failure to apply on time will result in denial of the pro-rate.
Yes. All tax rules apply to leased vehicles. However, the bill is mailed directly to the leasing company since leased cars are registered in the company's name. If you terminate your lease it is very important that you provide the Tax Assessor's with a return of plate receipt or a letter from your insurance company showing the vehicle cancelled from your policy as soon as possible.
Motor Vehicle Taxes are due for the period the vehicle was registered in Connecticut since October 1, so if you moved before the time you received your tax bill in July, you must still contact the Tax Assessor's office to let them know you moved out of state so they can prorate the bill. Make sure you notify the Dept. of Motor Vehicles as soon as you move and also let the previous Tax Collector's Office have your new address as well.
If you sold or closed your business before October 1st please contact the Tax Assessor at 203-431-2706 to remove this bill. If you closed or sold your business after October 1st this bill is due and payable in full.
The Tax Office attempts to send out a "Delinquency Notice" after each installment as a reminder. In addition, if not paid by the last business day in May, tax liens are filed against all properties on which there is a delinquent real estate tax according to State Statute 12-172. Postmark WILL NOT be honored, funds must be received by that date. There is a $24.00 charge to release each lien, regardless of the delinquent amount due. At the time of payment, all interest, taxes and fees must be paid before the lien can be released.
Interest on delinquent taxes is charged at statutory interest rates. Current interest is 18% per annum or 1 1/2% per month or part thereof with a minimum interest charge of $2.00. All delinquent Motor Vehicle and Personal Property taxes will be sent to a collection agency. A collection fee of 15% will be added to the amount of taxes and interest due.
The sewer use bills are sent out and are due September 1. Bills over $500.00 are paid in two installments, the first half in September and the second half in March. If payment is not made, a lien on the property is filed with the Town Clerk.