Property Tax Bills
Questions?
See our "Paying Your Calais Property Tax Bill" document. It provides the answers to some of our most frequent questions.
Due Dates
2025 tax bills will be mailed during late summer. The first payment will be due 30 days after tax bills are mailed, and the second will be Monday, November 17, 2025.
Payment Plans
There is no grace period for property tax payments. You may at any time before the due date contact the Town Office to design a payment plan to spread out your tax payment over smaller installments earlier in the tax year. Once taxes are overdue, you will need to work with the Delinquent Tax Collector, who can be reached at delinquenttaxes@calaisvermont.gov
Payment Methods
TAX PAYMENTS WILL ONLY BE ACCEPTED BY CHECK, ACH PAYMENT, MONEY ORDER, OR CREDIT CARD.
Checks may be dropped off in person, mailed, or deposited in the secure dropbox in the vestibule of the Town Office.
The ACH payment option is new in 2025. When you enroll in our direct debit program, your tax payments are automatically transferred securely, accurately, and on time from your bank account using the Automated Clearing House system. You can sign up by completing the Direct Debit Authorization Form and returning it to the Town Office along with a voided check, deposit slip, or screen shot for the account you wish to have debited. The Town will draw your property tax payments from your account on the tax due dates. Your bank statement will serve as your receipt.
The credit card link is on the homepage of this website on the left hand menu, or you can click here for the Online Payment Portal. If you choose to pay with a credit card, processing fees apply. All transactions will be charged an additional 3% processing fee, with a $1.50 fee minimum.
Property Transactions
If you buy or sell a Calais property between the closing of the Grand List in April and the due date of the second tax payment, you will need to make arrangements for the tax payments during your closing, as the tax bills will be mailed to the property owner as of April 1.
Delinquent Taxes - Penalty and Interest
Taxpayers who do not pay their full property tax amount by the November due date will be contacted by the Delinquent Tax Collector.
A penalty is a one-time assessment expressed as a percentage of the original amount of a tax delinquency. At Town Meeting on March 4, 2025, Calais voters set the delinquent tax penalty rate at 8%.
After each tax installment due date, and again on the first day of each month thereafter, interest on the outstanding tax balance is assessed at the monthly rate determined by the voters. At Town Meeting on March 4, 2025, Calais voters set the delinquent tax interest rate at one half of one percent (0.5%) per month or any part of a month.
If you are unable to pay your property taxes, you may be eligible to apply to the Calais Board of Abatement for a one-time abatement of part or all of your delinquent taxes, fees, and interest. See the Board of Abatement page for more information.
Please direct questions concerning your tax bill to Kari Bradley, Treasurer, at treasurer@calaisvermont.gov.