Tax Information

Contact the Assessor's Office at (860) 757-9630, or by fax at (860) 722-6142. DO NOT IGNORE YOUR BILL!

If any of these situations applies to you, you may be entitled to a credit:

• If your vehicle has been sold, and plates returned to DMV;
• Stolen and not recovered;
• Declared a total loss;
• If you have moved from Hartford or moved from Connecticut.

Contact the Assessor’s Office for information regarding the acceptable forms of proof for the issuance of a credit. Two forms of written proof are required. You must apply for the credit within a limited time, so do not delay!

If you owe delinquent property taxes on any vehicle in your name, you may not renew any registrations at the Department of Motor Vehicles without paying your taxes first. All past due taxes in your name must be paid in full by cash, money order or credit card in order to be cleared at DMV. For payments made by personal check, clearance will be provided after ten (10) business days. For payments made online, clearance will be provided after two (2) business days.

Your tax town is your town of residency as of October 1. If you moved from Hartford after October 1, but still resided in Connecticut, you must pay vehicle taxes to Hartford. Municipalities within Connecticut do not apportion motor vehicle tax bills for portions of a tax year. If you register the vehicle in another state, contact the Assessor's Office. If you move, you must notify the Department of Motor Vehicles of your new address within 48 hours. You should request a change of address on your driver's license and on your vehicle registration(s).

Yes. If you replaced one vehicle with another, and used the same license plates, you must pay on the “old” vehicle in July. In December, you will receive a pro-rated Supplemental motor vehicle tax bill, payable by February 1 for the new vehicle. This bill will reflect a credit for the amount you should have paid in July on the old vehicle. You will receive this credit without having to apply for it. However, you must have paid the entire amount due on the old vehicle in July. If you obtained new license plates for the new vehicle, you must apply for a credit. Contact the Assessors Office at (860) 757-9630 or by fax at (860) 722-6142.

If you newly registered a motor vehicle after October 1, (first time registration), you will receive a pro-rated tax bill in December, due on January 1, payable by February 1. This "supplemental" bill will reflect the time from the month the vehicle was first registered, through August 31. If you replaced a vehicle and used the same plates to register the replacement vehicle, see answer above.

You may be eligible. The exemption categories include Veteran; Spouse of a deceased Veteran; Blind; Totally Disabled; Motor Vehicle of a Serviceman or Servicewoman (active duty); Farmers / Merchants; and Forest, Farm and Open Space.  For details about these exemptions, or if you think you may qualify, contact the Assessor’s Office at (860) 757-9630.  Veterans’ & other exemptions, if any, appear in the total exemptions (“exempt”) box on your tax bill.

Yes. Save your receipts for 15 years, which is the length of time during which municipal taxes are collectible. Receipts will be issued for payments made in person at the Tax Office window. You must retain your own payment information for purposes of claiming tax credits and filling out federal and state income tax forms. Requests for information about payments made in prior fiscal years must be in writing; a fee is charged for research. Please plan ahead, as research will not be done while you wait.

Immediately, contact the bank / mortgage company for instructions of where to send the tax bill. (The address may be printed in your mortgage payment coupon book.) After you have the information, make a copy of your bill, circle the dollar amount of the real estate payment due, write your loan number on it, and immediately forward it to your escrow agent or mortgage company. Additional instructions may be available on the web site of your bank/mortgage company.

The property tax bills due in July will reflect ownership changes recorded through early May. If you recently purchased property in Hartford, and have not received a real estate tax bill, send an email to the Tax Collector’s Office immediately at Hartfordtax@Hartford.gov, to request a copy. Check with the Assessor’s Office to ensure their records have been updated. Payment must be made by August 1, whether or not a bill has been received! If you recently sold property in Hartford, and received a tax bill for the property, contact the Assessor’s Office at (860) 757-9630, or by fax (860) 722-6142.

Yes!  If you or your spouse are age 65 or older, permanently reside in Hartford (legal residence), either own your own home, and meet certain income restrictions, you may be eligible for one or more forms of city or state financed property tax credits and / or tax deferral.  To inquire about eligibility, or for information about these programs, contact the Assessor's Office at (860) 757-9630. You may also inquire in person at the Assessor’s Office, Room 108 at City Hall.  If you are a renter and meet certain income restrictions, you can apply at the Elderly Services Division located at 2 Holcomb Street, First Floor, Hartford; Telephone:(860) 547-1426.

The most convenient way to pay is Online or with a check by mail. A return envelope is included with your tax bill. If paying by mail, write the list numbers on your check. Your list numbers are shown on your bill. If you wish to have a receipt returned to you, please send the entire lower portion of your tax bill and a self-addressed, stamped envelope with your payment in your own envelope. We will not mail your receipt if you fail to include a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Mail payments to Tax Collector, 550 Main Street, Hartford, CT 06103.

DO NOT INCLUDE CASH. There is a $20 fee that will be applied to your account for checks returned by your Financial Institution for insufficient funds.

If you have delinquent motor vehicle taxes, or are planning to register a vehicle with the Department of Motor Vehicles and require a release from the Tax Collector, you must pay with Cash, Credit Card, Money Order, or Certified Bank Check. If payment is made by Personal check, a release will be issued after ten (10) business days. All releases are now processed electronically through the DMV.

If you want the lien released immediately upon payment, payment must be made by Cash, Money Order or Certified bank check. If payment is made by Personal check, liens will not be released for ten (10) business days.

The City of Hartford accepts credit cards; including VISA, MasterCard, Discover and PayPal. For those taxpayers who choose to pay with credit cards, there is a 2.50% convenience fee charged. This fee does not go to the City but to the bank for the transaction processing costs.

Partial payments are accepted. Interest is charged at the statutory rate (currently 1 ½ % per month/ 18% per year) from the due date. Taxes must be paid in full for lien releases or for motor vehicle registration clearance. If the amount of delinquent taxes owed is greater than $5,000, a formal agreement must be signed with an authorized member of the Tax Collector’s staff.

Yes, during the months of July and January. You should expect to wait in line if you plan to pay in person during this period. Lines are longest at lunchtime, and as the last day to pay approaches. When paying in person, bring your tax bill with you, and write your list numbers on your check for faster service. If you want to avoid waiting in line, consider paying your bill online or by mail. You may also “drop off” payments at the Tax Collector’s Office in the designated Drop Box outside Room 106 if the check is for the exact amount of the taxes due.

The Tax Collector's Office, located on the first floor of Hartford City Hall, 550 Main Street, Room 106, is open to the public Monday through Wednesday, 8:15 am. – 2:00 pm, Thursday 8:15 am. - 7:00 pm., Friday 8:15 pm - 2:30 pm.

Connecticut General Statutes (CGS) Section 12-130 states “…failure to send out any… tax bill shall not invalidate the tax....” You are not exempt from payment of all taxes and all interest charges.  If you do not receive a bill for which you are responsible, send an email to Hartfordtax@Hartford.gov and request a copy.

Yes. Save your receipts for 15 years, which is the length of time during which municipal taxes are collectible. Receipts will be issued for payments made in person at the Tax Office window. You must retain your own payment information for purposes of claiming tax credits and filling out federal and state income tax forms. Requests for information about payments made in prior fiscal years must be in writing. Please plan ahead, as research time varies and can take up to one week to complete. 

Three types of property are assessed and subject to taxes:

Real Estate: Any land or buildings are considered real estate.

Motor Vehicle: Registered motorized or non-motorized vehicles, (including cars, trucks, trailers and motorcycles) are considered motor vehicles for tax purposes.

Personal Property: Personal property is a general category including business equipment, machinery, furniture and fixtures either owned or leased by business. Unregistered motor vehicles are also taxed as personal property.

The property tax rate is expressed in mills, or thousandths of a dollar. A tax rate (mill rate) of 68.95 mills is equivalent to $68.95 in taxes per $1,000 of net assessed value. The City of Hartford sets the mill rates annually in May/ June as part of the municipal budget process.

Taxes are due July 1^st and January 1^st. If a tax bill is $100 or less, the full amount is due on July 1^st.