Port granted 21-day school tax payment extension
Port Jervis School District residents now have until October 21 to pay their school taxes without interest or penalty. Superintendent John Xanthis was notified Friday that Gov. Andrew Cuomo granted his request to be included in the executive order that provides tax payers in State Disaster Emergency areas with an extra 21 days to pay the current year school taxes.
The legislation is a way to help homeowners and businesses who are recovering from damage caused by Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee. It gives all residents a little extra time to pay their taxes.
Initially, only two Orange County School Districts – Warwick Valley and Washingtonville – applied for the extension. Both are located in communities ravaged by Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee. On Oct. 5, Port Jervis joined several districts located in areas with limited flood damage that submitted applications.
Under the executive order, Port Jervis School District residents now have 21 calendar days beyond the original September 30 due date to submit penalty-free payment. After the new October 21 deadline, taxes will be subject to the same interest and penalties that would have applied if the extension was not granted. A two percent penalty will be added to payments received from Oct. 22-31. A three percent penalty will be added to payments made from November 1-4.
Refunds will be issued to any Port Jervis school taxpayer who included the two-percent penalty with a payment made after September 30. Tax payers who have questions about the one-time extension can call the district collector (845) 858-3100, Ext. 15535.
The Tax Office is open daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. For the tax payers’ convenience, she is at TD Bank week day mornings through Oct. 31, from 9 a.m. to noon, to answer tax questions.
