Where to send your NYC property tax payment

New York City property taxes are collected by the Department of Finance. You can pay your bill in three ways: online through the NYC Department of Finance website, by mail to their lockbox address, or in person at a payment location in your borough.

The online method is fastest and most common. Go to the Department of Finance's official payment portal, enter your property's tax block and lot number (found on your tax bill), and pay by credit card, debit card, or electronic check. Payment posts the same day if submitted before 11:59 p.m.

If you prefer to mail a check, write it to "NYC Department of Finance" and include your property's tax block and lot number on the check itself. Mail it to the lockbox address listed on your tax bill. Processing by mail takes 7 to 10 business days after receipt.

Key Takeaways

  • Online payment through the NYC Department of Finance portal is the fastest method and posts the same day if submitted before midnight.
  • Your property's tax block and lot number, printed on your tax bill, is required for any payment method.
  • Property taxes in NYC are due on four dates per year, and penalties begin accruing immediately after each due date.
  • You can set up automatic payments through the Department of Finance website to avoid missing a due date.
  • If you cannot pay in full, contact the Department of Finance about a payment plan before the due date passes.

NYC property tax due dates and penalties

New York City property taxes are divided into four installments per year. The due dates are January 31, April 30, July 31, and October 31. If your payment is not received by 11:59 p.m. on the due date, a penalty of 0% accrues immediately, and interest begins accruing at 7% per year.

The penalty structure is steep: a 10% penalty applies if payment is more than 30 days late, and an additional 5% penalty applies if payment is more than 60 days late. Interest compounds daily on the unpaid balance. A payment that arrives even one day after the due date will incur penalties and interest.

If you know you will miss a due date, contact the Department of Finance before that date to discuss a payment plan. A plan established before the deadline can reduce or eliminate penalties, depending on your circumstances. Waiting until after the due date passes makes negotiation much harder.

Setting up automatic payments

The Department of Finance allows you to set up automatic payments so your tax bill is paid on the due date without action on your part. You can arrange automatic payments online through their portal or by phone at 311 (or 212-669-2000 from outside NYC).

Automatic payments can be set up for the full amount due or for a custom amount each quarter. You choose the payment method — bank account debit or credit card — and the system will charge your account on the due date. You can change or cancel automatic payments at any time through the same portal.

Automatic payments are especially useful if you own multiple properties or if you have a history of late payments. The system removes the risk of forgetting a due date, and you can monitor all payments through your online account.

What to do if you cannot pay in full

If you cannot pay your full tax bill by the due date, you have two options: request a payment plan or pay what you can and contact the Department of Finance about the remainder.

A payment plan spreads your bill across multiple months. You must request the plan before the due date to avoid penalties. The Department of Finance will work with you to set a schedule based on your circumstances. Once a plan is in place, you make payments on the agreed dates, and penalties do not accrue as long as you stay current on the plan.

If you pay part of your bill before the due date and contact the Department of Finance about the rest, penalties and interest will still apply to the unpaid portion, but you demonstrate good faith by paying what you can. This is better than paying nothing and waiting for a bill to become delinquent.

How to find your property's tax block and lot number

Your property's tax block and lot number appears on your property tax bill in the upper right corner. It is a series of numbers formatted as "Block: [number] Lot: [number]" or sometimes shown as a single number like "12345-0001".

If you have lost your tax bill, you can find your block and lot number through the NYC Department of Finance's property tax search tool on their website. Enter your address, and the system will display your property information, including the block and lot number. You can also call 311 and provide your address to get this information.

Some owners keep a copy of their tax bill in a file for this reason — the block and lot number is needed not only for payment but also for property records, refinancing, and insurance purposes.

Understanding your property tax bill

Your NYC property tax bill shows the assessed value of your property, the tax rate, and the total amount due for that quarter. The assessed value is set by the Department of Finance and is typically lower than the market value of your home. The tax rate varies slightly by borough and property type.

Your bill also shows any exemptions or abatements that apply to your property. Homeowners over 65 with income below a certain threshold may receive a STAR exemption. Owners of cooperative apartments may receive different tax treatment than owners of single-family homes. If you believe an exemption applies to you, you must file for it separately with the Department of Finance.

The bill lists the four quarterly amounts due that year. If you own a property with a mortgage, your lender may collect property taxes as part of your escrow account and pay the city directly. If that is the case, you do not pay the Department of Finance yourself — your lender does.

Paying property taxes through your mortgage lender

If your property has a mortgage, your lender may collect property taxes as part of your monthly mortgage payment and hold them in an escrow account. When your property tax bill is due, the lender pays the Department of Finance on your behalf. You do not need to pay the city directly.

Your mortgage statement will show how much of your monthly payment goes toward property taxes. The lender sends you an annual escrow statement showing all property tax payments made that year. If you want to verify that your lender paid your tax bill, you can check your property's payment history through the Department of Finance website.

If you pay off your mortgage, you become responsible for paying property taxes directly to the Department of Finance. Make sure you understand this responsibility before your loan closes, so you do not miss a due date after the lender stops paying on your behalf.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if I miss a property tax payment?

Penalties and interest begin accruing immediately after the due date. A 10% penalty applies if payment is more than 30 days late, and an additional 5% penalty applies if payment is more than 60 days late. Interest accrues at 7% per year on the unpaid balance. If the bill remains unpaid for an extended period, the city can place a lien on your property or begin foreclosure proceedings.

Can I pay my NYC property taxes by phone?

You cannot pay directly by phone, but you can call 311 to set up automatic payments or to discuss a payment plan. To pay immediately, use the online portal at the Department of Finance website or mail a check to the lockbox address on your bill.

Do I pay property taxes if I have a mortgage?

Your lender typically collects property taxes as part of your escrow account and pays the city for you. You do not pay the Department of Finance directly. However, you are still responsible for ensuring the tax is paid, so verify on your mortgage statement that the amount is being collected.

How do I dispute my property tax assessment?

You can file a complaint with the Department of Finance's Assessment Review Commission if you believe your property's assessed value is too high. The deadline to file is typically 30 days after your bill is mailed. You must provide evidence of comparable properties or a recent appraisal. Filing a complaint does not stop you from paying your current bill on time.

What if I own property in multiple NYC boroughs?

Each property has its own tax bill and due dates. You can set up automatic payments for each property separately through the Department of Finance portal, or you can pay all bills online in one session by entering each property's block and lot number.