TAXES

Online Property Information

• Information herein was is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed.
• For specific payoff information on Special Assessments please contact the Treasurer’s Office at 269-382-0223.
• The following searches are not available at this time: Comparable, Permit, Utilities, Animal, and Misc. Receivables.

• CLICK HERE for more information about who to contact regarding taxes related to schools, libraries, and the County.

TAX PAYMENT OPTIONS

Payment Option #1 – Mail

You can mail your payment to our office; the address is included on your tax bill. Please include your payment and the bottom portion of your tax bill. If you would like a receipt, please provide an email address or a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Postmarks are not accepted.

If you dispute the date of your payment, our office will rely on the “date received” stamp applied by staff. Based on past experience, the USPS is no longer a reliable way to ensure your taxes are delivered to our office by the due date. The safest way to ensure your tax payment is received by the due date is to come into the office or use the secure drop box.

Payment Option #2 – Drop Box

A secure drop box is to the right of the main entrance doors. It is available 24 hours a day and the parking lot is monitored by cameras. Please include your payment and the bottom portion of your tax bill. If you would like a receipt, please provide an email address or a self-addressed, stamped envelope. If your payment is in the drop box by 8 a.m. the morning after the due date, it will be considered an on-time payment. If the due date falls on a Friday, the Treasurer will check the drop box at 8 a.m. the Saturday after the due date. Any payments made after 8 a.m. will be considered late payments.

Payment Option #3 – Online Payments via Point and Pay (credit cards or e-checks)

Tax Online Payment Service

All payments made through the online portal (accessed via link above) will be charged a convenience fee, in addition to the tax amount owed. The fees charged vary depending on which option you choose (credit card or e-check), and the fees can change at any time.

If paying by credit card, the convenience fee is 3%, with a minimum fee of $2. If paying by e-check, there is a flat fee depending on the total amount you are paying. If the amount of your tax bill is under $10,000, the fee is $1.50. If the amount of your tax bill is over $10,000, the fee is $10.

Payments are posted once the money hits the Township bank account. There can be several days between payment and posting due to processing. Any payments made on the due date are posted as an on-time payment, once the money hits the Township bank account.

Payment Option #4 – In-person Payments

Please bring your complete tax bill with your payment. We can stamp the top portion of your tax bill or print a receipt. Cash and checks are accepted at the counter. If your check does not clear the bank, your payment will be backed out, and your taxes will remain unpaid until additional payment is provided.

NOTE: You can pay your taxes as soon as they become a lien on your property; you do not need to wait until your bill arrives. Not receiving a tax bill does not impact due dates or alleviate the tax burden.

INTEREST AND FEES

When calculating interest owed, you must calculate your base tax. You can find these figures under Tax Detail on your tax bill.

Below is the equation to calculate your base tax:

your taxable value × (your total tax millage rate – 18 mills if you have PRE) ÷ 1000

All interest and fees are calculated using your base tax.

The admin fee you see on your bills is: .01 (1%) × base tax

Summer Tax Interest Information

September 14 – Summer tax bills are due

September 15 – Interest begins to accrue (1%)

On the first of each subsequent month, if your summer taxes are still unpaid, there is another 1% interest penalty imposed

February 14 – Winter tax bills are due

February 15 to February 28 – One-time late penalty imposed (3%)

February 28 – Last day our office can accept property tax payments

March 1 – Taxes are turned over delinquent to the Kalamazoo County Treasurer

NOTE: if any of the dates listed above fall on a weekend or a recognized holiday, they are automatically moved to the next business day

Your tax bill will always include the exact dates. When in doubt, reference your current tax bill or call our office.

Winter Tax Interest Information

February 14 – Winter tax bills are due

February 15 to February 28 – Interest accrues (4% total)

February 28 – Last day our office can accept property tax payments

March 1 – Taxes are turned over delinquent to the Kalamazoo County Treasurer

In the interest accrual period (February 15-28), the township imposes a 1% interest penalty and a one-time late penalty of 3%.

NOTE: if any of the dates listed above fall on a weekend or a recognized holiday, they are automatically moved to the next business day

Your tax bill will always include the exact dates. When in doubt, reference your current tax bill or call our office.

If your taxes are turned over delinquent to the county, you must contact the Kalamazoo County Treasurer for the amount you owe: 269-384-8124

Delinquent Taxes and Avoiding Foreclosure

Eligible individuals can defer their summer taxes. Deferred summer tax payments must be paid on or before the winter tax due date to avoid any fees, interest, or penalties. You must file your intent to defer before September 15. The Application is linked below and must be returned to our office for processing.

Application for Deferment of Summer Taxes

FAQs about Summer Tax Deferment

The Kalamazoo County Treasurer’s Office has a Foreclosure Prevention Program to help residents avoid foreclosure if taxes are delinquent.

You can apply for a poverty exemption each year by filling out an application which can be picked up at our office. It can also be found on our website, under Tax Applications. If you follow the link, scroll down to find Tax Applications.

PROPERTY TAX INFORMATION

When people pay their taxes, they often ask some variation of the following:

Where does my tax money go?

What is it spent on?

How long does the millage last?

How was the millage rate calculated?

Does the township keep all the money?

We want to provide property owners with more information about the information found under the TAX DETAIL portion of their tax bills.

MILLAGES AND SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS

Millages are specific to where you live. You might pay taxes to Plainwell Community Schools, while someone else in Cooper might pay taxes to Parchment Schools. Check your tax bill to see what taxes are listed.

Millage rates can vary, and they are listed on your bill. To calculate the amount per line item on your bill, you use the following formula:

(taxable value × millage rate) ÷ 1000 = amount you pay

Most special assessments are not considered a tax because they are not based on your taxable value. The Recycle Fee in Cooper Township is not based on taxable value. That is why it is not included in the base tax calculation. The Recycle Fee is a flat rate amount and can vary year to year.

NOTE: There are three broad responsibilities mandated to Michigan townships by state law: tax collection, property assessment, and election administration.

The following money stays within the township:

• TOWNSHIP TAX (millage-based tax)
• RECYCLE FEE (special assessment) – assessed per recycle unit
  • (single family homes are assessed at one recycle unit, duplexes at two, etc.)
• STREETLIGHTS (millage-based tax) – if you live within 300 ft of a streetlight you are assessed this millage
• ADMIN FEE – 1% fee (.01 × base tax) that helps offset the cost of tax collection and property assessment as required by state law)

The rest of the money collected by the Township Treasurer is dispersed to other entities. For questions about those taxes, the Township Treasurer has created a document that includes contact information so you can reach out and communicate directly with those who receive the tax money. This information is pulled from the Internet, so accuracy is not guaranteed. If links or contact information needs to be updated, please let us know.

Tax and Assessing Applications/Forms?  Click HERE.