City of Watertown NY Assessment Department

Tax Bill Info

FAQs

Assessment Department
Municipal Building
245 Washington St,
Room 201
Watertown NY 13601

Brian Phelps , City Assessor

Assessor - Brian Phelps
Real Property Appraiser - Richard Holley
Real Property Tax Service Aide - Judith Fiorentino
Phone: (315) 785-7760
Fax: (315) 785-7737

Office Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Summer Hours: June, July & August, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm

The primary function of the department is to prepare real property tax rolls and bills.

The goal of our department is to accurately establish assessed values for the equitable distribution of property taxes.

The department maintains a public record of the location, building inventory, ownership and sales history for every parcel of real property in the City of Watertown.

The department is responsible for the administration of all property tax exemptions.

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Key dates:

December 1 - Taxable Status Date.
December 1 - Deadline for filing all exemption applications (including renewals).
January 15 - Tentative roll filed. (View rolls here)
February 15 - County Taxes Due (View tax information here)
2nd Tuesday in February - Grievance Day. (More Info..)
March 31 - Final roll filed. (View rolls here)
August 5 - City Tax Due (View tax information here)
November 5 - Watertown School Tax Due (payable to the School District) (View tax information here)

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Exemptions

Links to Common Exemption Forms
(All Exemptions are due by December 1 st )

STAR (School Tax Relief) Exemption: (pdf)
If you own property and it is your primary residence, you are probably eligible for a STAR (School Tax Relief) exemption. If you are 65 or older you are probably eligible for Enhanced STAR. If you have just purchased your home a customized STAR application will be mailed to you.
Veterans Exemption : (pdf)
The Alternative Veteran's Exemption is available to qualifying residential real property owned by honorably discharged veterans (or certain family members) who served during defined periods of war or under certain other conditions.
Informational Pamphlet.
Senior Citizens Exemption: (pdf)
To qualify, seniors must be 65 years of age or older and have a total income of less than $18,500.
Informational Pamphlet.
Improvements to Residential Property: (pdf)
A partial exemption from real property taxation of the increase in assessed value attributable to reconstruction, alterations or improvements made to residential property.
Instructions (pdf)

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View Tax Roll Information:

2008

2008 County Tax Roll (pdf)

2008 Tentative Assessment Roll (pdf)

2008 Final Assessment Roll

2008 City Tax Roll (available 7/2008)

2008 School Tax Roll (available 9/2008)

2007

2007 County Tax Roll (pdf)

2007 Tentative Assessment Roll (pdf)

2007 Final Assessment Roll (pdf)

2007 City Tax Roll (pdf)

2007 School Tax Roll (pdf)

2006

2006 Tentative Roll (pdf)

2006 Final Roll (pdf)

2006 City Tax Roll (pdf)

2006 School Tax Roll (pdf)

County, City & School Taxes

(printable version)

The Assessment Department produces three bills a year for all parcels located within the city.

A Tax Sale is held annually approx June 25th by the City Comptroller for any unpaid taxes in the current fiscal year. Owners will have two years from tax sale date to redeem property before losing title.

Contact the Comptroller's Office for further information about tax sales at 315-785-7754.

County Taxes:

View 2008 Tax roll

The bills are mailed by Jan 15 each year and payment is due by Feb 15th without penalty.

The period covered on the tax bill is Jan 1st through Dec 31st of the current year.

Payments are made payable to:

City Comptroller
245 Washington St Suite 203
Watertown NY 13601

City Taxes:

The bills are mailed by July 5th , and payment is due without penalty by August 5th

The period covered on the tax bill is July 1st through June 30th of the current fiscal year.

Payments can be made payable to:

City Comptroller
245 Washington St Suite 203
Watertown NY 13601

School Taxes:

School tax bills are mailed by October 4th , and payment is due by November 4th to the SCHOOL DISTRICT or any of the COMMERCIAL BANKS listed on the bill.

The period covered on the tax bill is July 1st through June 30th of the current fiscal year.

Payments are accepted at:

Watertown City School District
1351 Washington Street PO Box 586
Watertown NY 13601

DELINQUENT SCHOOL BILLS:

Any unpaid school tax as of first week of December is turned over to the City Comptroller's Office for collection.

Once this occurs, payments are made payable to:

City Comptroller
245 Washington St Suite 203
Watertown NY 13601