Treasurer's Office FAQ
Miscellaneous
- What is the township's fiscal year?
The township's fiscal year runs from April 1st through March 31st.
- Where do I pay bills for water/sewer, weed cutting and other township charges?
Payments are paid at the Township Office. If there is a due date, make sure the payment is made on time in order to avoid a late charge. (Late charges will not be waived.)
- How can I make a payment, if I cannot get to the Township Office on time or if it is too late to pay them by mail?
Payments may be deposited in the drive-up drop box located across from the entrance of the Township Office. Payments must be by check or money order and in a sealed envelope. Please do not put cash in the drop box. Carrollton Township will not be responsible for payments not in a sealed envelope or for any cash payment deposited in the drop box. Drop-box payments are removed at 8:00 a.m., Monday through Friday. Payments are recorded as having been paid on the preceding business day.
- What form of payment is accepted for township billings?
Cash, check or money order made payable to the Carrollton Township Treasurer. Credit card payments are now accepted online or by phone (see #6 below). A $25.00 fee is charged for returned checks. If returned checks are not redeemed immediately with cash, certified check or money order (with the $25.00 fee included) the payment is removed from the record and:
- Utility payments are voided from the account. The $25.00 fee as well as the amount of the utility bill must be paid the following day by 12:00 p.m. after you are notified by the Township Office that your check has been returned. Also, if the due date has past, a 10% late charge is added. In order to avoid shut-off, the full amount (utility bill total plus penalty and $25.00 NSF fee) must be paid in full; and
- If the payment was for a weed cutting or any other miscellaneous billing, the amount of the bill plus the $25.00 will be assessed to your December township tax bill.
Personal checks will not be accepted to pay for a returned (NSF) check. If the check is returned, because your account has been closed, it is turned over to law enforcement for prosecution.
5. Does Carrollton Township have automatic bill payment (through my financial institute) for water/sewer bills and taxes and is there a fee for this service?
Yes! Carrollton Township offers automatic bill payment for utility bills only. Call the office to sign up!
6. Does Carrollton Township accept payments by credit card?
Yes! We now offer the credit card payment option administered by Official Payments Corporation. Click here to find out how!
7. How are trash collection charges billed?
Trash collection charges are placed on your property tax bill. The trash charge for 2011 is $100.00 and will be placed on your December 2011 winter tax bill.
8. How do I get my Michigan Homestead Property Tax Credit (Form MI-1040CR)?
The claim form and the instructions can be obtained from Michigan Department of Treasury website: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mCRf_53972_7.pdf.
9. How long will it take to receive a refund of a deposit, bond or other amount owed by the township?
The township processes bills in conjunction with the regular Township Board meeting held on the last Monday of the month. You can expect to have a refund check or to have an invoice payment within at least three days after the last day of the month (provided your amount owed has been placed in the accounts payable run).
10. Why doesn't the township utilize funds in reserve in the general, fire, police, sewer, water, or trash funds to reduce my tax rate or to reduce the number of mills for fire, water and police, or to reduce my water and sewer bills?
By law, a municipality is restricted to utilizing its funding resources based on the funds for which they are collected. We account for funds collected separately using the fund accounting method.
With the exception of some usage by the general fund, all other funds must remain independent of one another. For instance, if money is collected for use in the Fire Department, and they do not use all the money in that fiscal year, the township cannot use the reserve to hire a police officer or build a playground. Water funds cannot be used to support sewer operation and maintenance (and vice-versa).
Any excess of funds that are collected go into what is called a fund balance. A separate fund balance is kept for each fund and is stated in the township audit reports. In short-townships are restricted to utilize fund balances to try to enhance services in the future for the function it was originally collected for.
PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX:
- What is personal property?
Business personal property consists of items used to operate a business, such as desks, other office equipment, tools, and other business operating equipment. For more information on items that could be taxable, or any concerns you have with filing your annual personal property tax forms (required by law) please contact the township assessor, David Cook 754-4611 ext. 25
- Where do I pay my delinquent personal property taxes?
Payment of delinquent personal property taxes must be made at the Township Office.
- What happens if I don't pay (or make arrangements to pay) these taxes?
The Treasurer will seize your property. It will be sold at public auction to pay the delinquent taxes, attorney fees and other related collection fees. Any dollars left after expenses are met are returned to the taxpayer.
TAXES:
- When is my summer tax bill due?
The summer tax bill is for the collection of the State Education Tax (SET) and the County Operating Millage. Your 2011 summer tax bill should be recieved by mail on or about July 1, 2011. You have until Wednesday, September 14th to pay without interest (additional 1% per month thereafter). However, you can still pay the summer tax statement at the Township Office through February 29, 2012. After February 14th a penalty of 3% is added to the tax bill and interest charges. Your payment must have the interest and/or penalty charges included or it will be returned to you as unpaid. Interest and penalty amounts for past due summer taxes are as follows:
September 15-30, 1%
October 1-31, 2%
November 1- 30, 3%
December 1-31, 4%
January 1-31, 5%
February 1-14, 6%
February 15- 29, 9%*
*9% represents: 6% SET interest and 3% penalty
In order to avoid a penalty, PAYMENT MUST BE RECEIVED IN THE TREASURER'S OFFICE OR POSTMARKED ON OR BEFORE SEPTEMBER 14, 2011. THE TOWNSHIP DOES RECOGNIZE A POSTMARK DATE FOR PAYMENT OF SUMMER TAXES
- Can I defer payment of my summer tax bill?
Yes. Forms are available at www.michigan.gov/treasury
- What type of property is eligible for summer property tax deferment?
Homestead. (The property owner's principal residence.)
- What is included in total household income for the purposes of summer property tax deferment?
Household income is all income (of any kind) for all persons living in the household.
- Will the Michigan Department of Treasury be reviewing and approving the tax deferment this summer?
Your local treasurer approves the summer tax deferment.
- Can a corporation defer summer taxes?
No. A corporation cannot.
- When do I have to pay the deferred 2011 summer taxes?
Payment is due by February 14, 2012.
- When is my winter tax bill due?
Your 2011 winter tax bill should be received on or about December 1, 2011 and is due February 14, 2012. Payment of winter tax bills made between February 15 and 29, 2012 must include a penalty amount of 3%, or the bill will be returned to you as unpaid.
In order to avoid a penalty, PAYMENT MUST BE RECEIVED IN THE TREASURER'S OFFICE (OR BE POSTMARKED) ON OR BEFORE FEBRUARY 14, 2012.
Tax payments that are not paid at the township office or postmarked by February 14, 2012 will incur a 3% penalty on Wednesday, February 15, 2012.
- When do my 2011 summer and winter taxes become delinquent?
March 1, 2012
If you are unable to make it to the Township Office on or before February 29, 2012, you may put your check or money order payment in a sealed envelope in the drop box that evening. Drop box payments are collected each morning at 8:00 a.m. Any payments put in the drop box after 8:00 am on Thursday, March 1, 2012 will be considered delinquent and will be returned to you. Payment must then be made at the Saginaw County Treasurer's Office located at 111 S. Michigan Ave.
You may also mail your tax payment to the township office. As long as the envelope is postmarked on or before Wednesday, February 29, 2012 - your payment will be considered received on time.
- What form of payment is accepted for tax bills?
Cash, check or money order made payable to the Carrollton Township Treasurer. A $25.00 fee is charged for returned checks. If returned checks are not redeemed immediately with cash, certified check or money order (with the $25.00 fee included), the tax payment is removed from the record. A canceled tax receipt and an invoice for the $25.00 will be sent to you. If the check is returned because your account has been closed, it is turned over to law enforcement for prosecution.
We now offer the credit card payment option administered by Official Payments Corporation. Click here to find out how!
- How do I know if there are any special assessments on my tax bill?
A complete breakdown of your tax payment is located on the back of your tax bill. If you still have questions, call the Township Office.
- Can I claim a special property assessment on my income taxes?
You will have to seek this advice from your tax advisor.
- Is there some way I can pay winter taxes in February 2012 without penalties?
A taxpayer, who meets conditions set by the State of Michigan may make payment of their winter tax bill without penalty (until February 29, 2012), if the Township Board has passed a resolution making this waiver.
- What is a delinquent real property tax?
A delinquent real (building and real estate) property tax is a tax that has been forwarded to the County Treasurer for collection on March 1st of the year after it was due (unless March 1st falls on a weekend or holiday). For example, taxes that were billed by Carrollton Township in 2010 were turned over as delinquent to the County Treasurer on March 1, 2011.
- If I do not pay my real property taxes, will I really lose my home and property?
Yes. Property owners who had delinquent taxes under the old law could also lose their property, but they had more time to pay and more "second chances." Under the new law, if your taxes are delinquent for two years, that's it. You have just lost your property.
- What happens after the tax is forwarded to the County Treasurer for collection?
The county adds a 4% administration fee and interest of 1% per month. After one year, the property is forfeited to the County Treasurer.
- What does it mean for my property to be in forfeiture? Does that mean I lose my property?
No. If your property is in forfeiture, you still have a year before it will be foreclosed. However, the interest and fees will be higher. When a property is forfeited, the interest rate goes from 1% a month to 1.5% per month, back to the date the taxes became delinquent. A $175.00 fee is also added.
Click here to view an example of the timeline for forfeited property provided by the Saginaw County Treasurer.
- What happens after my property is in forfeiture?
After a property has been in forfeiture for one year, it will be foreclosed.
Click here to view Saginaw County's Frequently Asked Questions regarding forfeitures.
- What happens after my property is foreclosed? How do I get it back?
You cannot get your property back after it has been foreclosed. Foreclosure is final. Property that has been foreclosed will be sold at public auction.
If you need other answers or there are questions that you think should be added to this FAQ list, contact my Deputy Treasurer Megan King at 754-4611 ext 29 or by email at mking@carrolltontwp.com. Thank you.
Timothy Riley, Treasurer
Carrollton Township
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