Tax Collector's Office
Carol Herb, Tax Collector

About Our Department
he Office of Tax Collector is an elected position with a four-year term. It is a part-time position. The responsibilities of the office begin mid-December and continue until mid-April. The Tax Collector is responsible for collecting all real estate taxes on properties located in the Town of Woodbury and a small section in the Village of Harriman.

Frequently Asked Questions
When are real estate taxes due?
Town and county real estate taxes are due during the month of January, penalty-free. The Town imposes a 1% penalty for taxes paid in February and a 2% penalty for taxes paid in March. As of April 1st, the Tax Collector closes the accounts and returns the collection to the Commissioner of Finance in Goshen. At this time, all unpaid taxes become payable to the Commissioner of Finance with additional penalties. (When the last day of the month is Saturday or Sunday, the collection period is extended to Monday.) All real estate tax bills are mailed by December 31st.

How are real estate taxes paid?
Payment of real estate taxes is made several ways: (1) banks pay the Tax Collector directly from escrow accounts, (2) property owners mail their payment to the Tax Collector, or (3) residents pay in person at Town Hall during January at times noted on the tax bill. Payment is made to Carol Herb, Collector. Personal checks are the most common form of payment, but money orders, bank checks, and cash are accepted.

What is on the tax bill?
County tax, Town tax, Highway tax, Town Outside the Village of Harriman tax, Woodbury Light, are items on [almost] every bill. Woodbury Refuse is listed on properties receiving that service. Other items that can be put on tax bills are: School relevy (for properties with unpaid school taxes).

How can I get a receipt?
A canceled check is proof of payment, but some residents prefer getting a stamped receipt. When paying in person (during the designated Hours), a receipt is issued to the payee. When paying by mail, receipts are mailed to the payee. All property owners paying real estate taxes through escrow accounts will be mailed a receipt directly from the Tax Collector.

How can I contact the Tax Collector?
During the collection season (mid-December through mid-April), the Tax Collector is available until 9:00PM. From the middle of April through the middle of December, the Tax Collector will respond to messages left on the answering machine and all mailed correspondence.

Phone number:  (845) 928-6062
Address:  P.O Box 216,  Highland Mills, New York 10930

Some points of interest:  
Real estate taxes become due January 1st but can be paid before the end of December on the date the Tax Collector Warrant is issued by the Orange County Legislature.

Exemptions are available for Veterans and Senior Citizens based on military time served (for Veterans) and income (for Senior Citizens). Everyone who thinks they are eligible should contact the Assessor's Office at (845) 928-6829.

STAR Program: All Senior Citizens with income under $60,000 and primary homeowners (regardless of income) should take advantage of this new statewide program. Applications must be filed with the Assessor's Office by March 1, 2005.

The Town of Woodbury, the Village of Woodbury, the Monroe-Woodbury Central School District, and the Cornwall School District use the same source for creating tax bills. However, school tax bills (due in September) are collected separately by the school's collector. Also, Village of Woodbury tax bills (due in June) are collected separately by the Village's tax collector.

Notify the Town of Woodbury Tax Collector when:
Your address is incorrect or has changed.
Your mortgage is satisfied (the escrow account is closed).
You haven't received your tax bill.
You have questions about your tax bill.

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