Payments can be mailed to Amber Paffen, Tax Collector PO Box 718 Stillwater NY 12170 or pay on line.

OFFICE HOURS: 

We will also be collecting IN PERSON payments for the 2024 Tax Bills. The following are the days and times you can drop of payments in person to either the tax collector or deputy tax collector. Other offices can not accept payments.

January 2024 (CLOSED MONDAY 1/1/24)

• Monday 3pm to 6pm
• Wednesday 3pm to 6pm
• Friday 9am to 2pm
• Saturday 11am to 2pm

February 2024

• Monday 3pm to 6pm
• Friday 11am to 2pm

March 2024

• Monday 3pm to 5pm
• Friday 11am to 2pm

For After Hours: Secure Dropbox outside Town Hall. (receipts will be mailed) NO CASH IN DROP BOX PLEASE.

During Operating Hours: Secure Dropbox inside Town Hall lobby.  (receipts will be mailed) NO CASH IN DROP BOX PLEASE.

NO PAYMENTS ACCEPTED AFTER MARCH 31st. ALL PROPERTY TAX PAID AFTER MARCH 31st MUST BE PAID TO THE SARATOGA COUNTY TREASURES OFFICE IN BALLSTON SPA.

 DOWNLOAD a SAMPLE Tax Bill with full explanation

When looking up your bill ONLY enter either your last name OR your address. NOT BOTH. Also, keep in mind, you need to spell everything the way it would appear on your bill. Example: Dr. vs Drive – you may need to try both ways. 

Duties of the Tax Collector:
The Town of Stillwater is a Town of the second class.  Collecting officers in Towns of the second class are known as Tax Collectors.  This is an elected position with a 4 year term.  Before entering upon the duties of the office, it is required that all tax collecting officers take and subscribe the Constitutional oath of office.  In addition, an official undertaking or bond, which guarantees the faithful performance of the office, must be executed and filed in the Town Clerk’s Office.  Once the Tax Collector has taken the oath and executed the bond, she or he becomes the insurer and guarantor of all moneys, securities, books, papers and records that the law provides shall be in her or his custody.

• • • The Tax Collector collects the General Property Taxes in January.  The bills are mailed on or about December 31st.  The tax bill covers the period of January 1st – December 31st.  Payments can be made January 1-31, without penalty.  If they are paid February 1 – 28, there is a 1% penalty and if paid March 1 – 31, there is a 2% penalty.  On April 1st, all unpaid tax bills are turned over to the Saratoga County Treasurer for collection.
    • The General Tax bill contains levies for the Town, County, and special districts.  In addition, if school, village taxes, or water bills are unpaid, they will be re-levied on the General Tax Bill.  If a previous owner was receiving an exemption, an exemption payback amount may also appear on the bill which covers the time period that the new property owner enjoyed a previous owner’s exemption to which they were not entitled to.  Please contact our office if there are any questions regarding the amounts due.
    • To assist our elderly and disabled residents, third party notification of tax bills is offered.  Property owners who are disabled or 65 years of age or older, and own a one, two, or three family home, may designate an adult consenting third party to receive duplicate copies of tax bills and notices of unpaid taxes.  In order to receive this service, one must fill out a third party notification form RP-923, which is available in the Tax Office.
    • Many residents have their taxes escrowed with lending institutions.  It is the lending institution’s responsibility to notify this office to ensure bills are sent to them and not to the property/homeowner for payment.  Many banks contract with Tax Service Organizations (TSOs), which are agencies that service escrow accounts for the banks.  These organizations provide us with a listing of their customers and their identifying account numbers.  The larger organizations do this primarily by computer.  In the event that a resident received a bill that should have gone to the bank, it is still the responsibility of the bank to call for that bill.  If the bill should have gone to the homeowner, but went to the bank, it is the homeowner’s responsibility to know that taxes are due.  Please call our office immediately and we will issue you a duplicate bill.  The failure to mail a statement or the failure of the property owner to receive a statement will not affect the validity of the taxes or interest prescribed by law.  (New York State Real Property Tax Law §922).  If you should have received a bill, but have not during the first week of January, please contact this office for a duplicate bill.