Brick Municipal Building / Photo: Daniel Nee
Brick Township officials will extend a grace period for residents to pay their quarterly property tax bills without interest or penalties.
Property tax bills are due May 1, but due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Mayor John Ducey and township council members adopted a policy that will extend the grace period to pay taxes without interest or penalty until May 31. The council unanimously passed a resolution authorizing the extension last week “to provide relief to taxpayers and businesses affected by the Coronavirus pandemic,” a statement said.
“Everyone is experiencing some level of hardship due to the ongoing public health crisis,” said Ducey. “While we do not have the authority to delay the property tax due date, we do have say over the interest rate on late payments. Waiving that interest for 30 days is one way we can help people struggling during this time.”
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The zero percent interest rate effectively provides a 30-day grace period to property owners.
While the township’s municipal government is only responsible for roughly 30 percent of the total property tax bill, it is responsible for collecting 100 percent of property tax payments. The township then forwards the funds collected to the Brick Township Public Schools, Ocean County and fire districts.
“We are a pass through for most of the property taxes we collect,” said Ducey. “We send most of what is collected to the schools and county so they can meet their bills.”
The due date for property tax payments is still May 1. For Brick Township taxpayers, payment must be received by May 31 to avoid interest on delinquent payments – but under state law the grace period deadline is strict. On June 1, the interest reverts to statutory interest rates retroactive to the due date of May 1 as required by law.
During the pandemic, property taxes can be paid by mail or online by credit card.
According to the township: Tax payments may be made with check, cash, money order and by credit card through Paymentus Corporation (Visa, MasterCard and Discover Card). Paymentus charges a convenience fee of 2.5% for credit and debit card payments. Payments made through Paymentus are not received until the next business day and interest may be charged accordingly. Paymentus also allows E-check payments and charges a $1 convenience fee. Taxes may also be paid via a dropbox at the municipal building.
Property owners may also fill out a short form and provide a voided check at the tax office which will allow the township to make a direct withdrawal (at no additional cost to the property owner or the township) from the taxpayer’s checking account or savings account. ACH payment may be cancelled by the property owner in writing at any time prior to the quarterly tax due date. ACH payments will come out of your account during the ten day grace period. The form can be downloaded on the township website, www.bricktownship.net.
