Tax Bills Due Date(s):

• Summer tax bills are mailed on July 1 and due by September 14.
• Winter tax bills are mailed on December 1 and due by February 17.
• Please note that taxes are billed for the fiscal year ahead, not for the previous year. If you recently purchased a home and paid an amount toward the taxes in your closing costs, you may have paid a prorated amount toward the previous tax year. In most cases, bills issued after the closing date are not covered in your closing costs. Please read your paperwork carefully.


Late Payment:

• A 3 percent penalty/late fee is applied on any payment received after 5:00 p.m. on either September 14 (summer tax) or February 17 (winter tax).
•On March 2, all delinquent real property is transferred to the Wayne County Treasurer and must then be paid either on their website at www.waynecounty.
com/treasurer, by phone (313) 224-5990 or in person at 400 Monroe, 5th Floor, Detroit, MI 48226.


How to Pay your Tax Bill:

• Mail > Return the bottom portion of the tax bill with your check/money order made payable to: Brownstown Township. Post-dated checks will not be accepted, please date your check for the actual day you write it. Postmarks are not proof of receipt of payment. Payment will be recorded on the date received in our office, not the day it was mailed or the date on the envelope and/or check.
• Drop Box > Please leave the bottom portion of your tax bill along with your check or money order (no cash) in the secure drive-up, locked drop box located on the sidewalk in front of the main entrance of Township Hall. It can be utilized 24 hours a day, and is under 24/7 video surveillance to ensure accuracy and safety.
• Credit/Debit Card > We accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover. To pay online, go to brownstown-mi.org and follow the link on the “Tax & Payments” page. This service will charge a 3% fee for credit/debit cards, or a flat rate of $3.00 for electronic checks up to $10,000. You can also call (877) 495-2729 to pay by credit/debit card or an electronic check.
• In Person > Please bring your entire tax bill with you so we can date stamp the top portion for your records.
• Online Banking > Use caution when you pay this bill via your online banking system as it is not a guarantee of our timely receipt of your payment. When you use online banking, it may automatically debit your account but your bank still sends us a check and this process can take 5-7 business days longer. If not received by the due date, it will be considered late.
• Partial Payments > As a courtesy to our residents, we now accept partial payments.
• Escrow/Mortgage Company > If your taxes are paid through an escrow or mortgage company, you will not receive a tax bill. However, if you do, please forward it to your mortgage company.
• Income Tax Info > Please keep a copy of your tax bill for Income Tax purposes. Brownstown cannot advise you on what to claim. All income tax questions must be directed to a professional or to the State of Michigan.


Non-Sufficient Check Fee:

• Checks are accepted as conditional payment. Brownstown will charge any individual or company a fee of $30 (cash or money order only) for a returned check. The Township is not liable for any difficulty that may occur with a bank or mortgage company. A returned check must be paid in full within five (5) days of Brownstown receiving it.
• A 3 percent penalty/late fee is applied on any payment received after 5:00 p.m. on either September 14 (summer tax) or February 17 (winter tax).


Senior Property Tax Deferments:

• Brownstown Treasurers Office July 14, 2005 Public Act 24 of 2005 has amended Section 51 of the Michigan General Property Tax Act (MCL 211.51) to allow the following residents: Senior Citizens (age 62 and older), Paraplegic or Quadriplegic, Eligible Serviceperson, Eligible Veteran, Eligible Widow or Widower, Blind Person or Totally and Permanently Disabled person, to defer their summer property taxes if they have a household income below $40,000. To qualify for the deferment under the new income limit, a resident must meet one or more of the following conditions as defined by the State Income Tax Act:
• Household income below $40,000 for the current year
• Is 62 years of age or older, including the unmarried surviving spouse of a person who was 62 years of age or older at the time of death
• Is a paraplegic, quadriplegic, eligible serviceperson, eligible veteran, eligible widow or widower, blind person or a totally and permanently disabled person
• Residents who believe they qualify under the new limit and wish to defer their summer property taxes can obtain an Application for Deferment of Summer Taxes from the Brownstown Treasurers Office. Deferment forms must be on file with the Brownstown Treasurers Office no later than September 14. If the deferment is approved, individuals will have until February 17 to pay their summer property tax without penalty. You may obtain a form on our website.