Suffolk County property tax payment schedule

One combined bill (county + town + school + specials), issued December 1 by your Suffolk Town Receiver. Payable in two halves. After May 31, unpaid balances transfer to the Suffolk County Comptroller with penalty + interest.

Suffolk payment calendar

DateDescription
December 1Tax bills issued. First half payable without penalty through January 10.
January 10Last day to pay First Half without penalty.
January 11 - May 31First half unpaid: 1% per month penalty. Second half also payable in this window (due May 10).
May 10Second half due. Payable without further penalty through May 31.
May 31Last day Town Receivers collect. All unpaid balances transfer to County Comptroller.
June 1 onward5% penalty + 1%/month interest (calculated from Feb 1). Interest rates: 5% June, 6% July, ascending monthly.
August 31Tax sale advertising fee added to unpaid balances.
November-DecemberTax Lien Sale held on properties with unpaid taxes.

Where to pay (Suffolk Town Receivers)

Tax sale risk. If your Suffolk bill is unpaid by the next November-December tax lien sale, the County sells a lien on your property to recover the unpaid taxes. You have a 12-month redemption window after the sale, but at that point the tax lien holder (often an investor) is charging compounding interest. Don't let your Suffolk taxes slip past May 31.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Suffolk bill one bill or two?

One combined bill. It includes county tax + town tax + school tax + special districts on a single invoice issued December 1. You can pay it in two halves (first half by January 10, second half by May 10) without penalty.

What's the absolute latest I can pay before the lien sale?

The tax sale typically happens in November-December of the year following the bill. To avoid the sale, pay by sometime in October of that year — but verify the exact deadline with the County Comptroller, since penalties keep accruing.

My mortgage holder pays my Suffolk taxes via escrow. Do I need to track this?

You should verify each year. Some mortgage servicers pay late or miss the second half. Check your escrow analysis statement and confirm the County recorded the payment.

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Sources & citations

Last verified: 2026-05-11. Tax rules change; we re-verify each page quarterly.

Estimates and educational content only — not legal, tax, or financial advice. Verify with your county or town receiver, an attorney, or a CPA before making financial decisions.