I have delinquent property taxes. To whom do I pay them?
If the taxes are for property in the City of Fulton you will pay them to the Fulton City Chamberlain.
If they are for property anywhere else in the County of Oswego you will pay them to the County Treasurer.
How can I find out how much I owe in back taxes?
Please contact the County Treasurer's office in order to obtain the most accurate amount due.
How can I reduce my tax burden?
Taxes are based on assessments which are based on the market value, or a fraction of the market value (depending on your local municipality). These assessments determine your share of the entire tax levy. If you feel that the full value of your assessment is greater than the market value you can seek a review of your assessment.
If you feel that the assessment is fair, but the tax burden is too high, this can be addressed with the various jurisdictions that impose property taxes such as: the county legislature, city/town boards, school districts, and special districts (fire, light, water, sewer, etc).
Your tax burden can also be reduced through the granting of exemptions. Similar to income tax exemptions, property tax exemptions reduce the amount you owe, but the exact amount could be different for each taxing jurisdiction. Most exemptions that are available to homeowners have an ownership, residency, and/or income requirement. Most homeowners will not qualify for any property tax exemptions, but you may check with your local assessor to see what exemptions may be available in your community.
I received my bill and it's missing an exemption. Whom do I contact about this?
If you believe it's an exemption that you applied for on time and that you are entitled to, you would need to file for a correction of errors.
Please note however that only exemptions that affect that bill will appear on the bill, so exemptions that affect county/town taxes will not appear on the school tax bill and vice versa.
I think the acreage or lot size is wrong for my property on my tax bill or the assessment roll. How can I correct this?
In most cases the lot size on the tax bill and assessment roll will come from our tax map. You can request a map check from our office to determine if an adjustment needs to be made on the map and that change will be shared with your local assessor who will update the assessment roll with the proper lot size.
How do I sell or transfer my property to someone else?
In New York State, real property title is generally transferred by deed. Every filed deed is a legal document that adds to the "chain of title" concerning the specific property in question. Deeds on file cannot be changed so in order to sell or transfer a property to a new owner (even to "add a name" to a deed) a new one must be filed with all relevant forms and paperwork. We highly recommend contacting a lawyer who can advise you on the different steps you would need to take, including which type of deed to utilize, as no county agency or department is qualified to do so.
Do you have a copy of my survey?
If your survey was filed with the county, it would be filed with the County Clerk. However, unless you personally filed your survey or have knowledge that it was filed, it very likely was not. Many people assume that their surveyor or attorney filed the survey on their behalf, but unless it was part of a subdivision, there is no legal requirement that they do so.
When is your tax auction?
Our annual auction is generally held in the summer, but the exact date can vary and is set by the legislature. Please check our auction information page for more details throughout the year.
How do I get a 911 address for my property?
You will need to contact the 911 addressing office to request a physical property address. Do not use a third-party service such as Google Maps to estimate your address as that is a calculated estimate and is not an official source. Only the 911-addressing office can provide you with a 911 address.
How do I find out if there's a lien on a property?
All liens are filed by name with the County Clerk's office. In many cases liens are in effect against any and all the real property owned by an individual named in the lien, but some may affect a specific parcel of real estate if specifically described that way (such as a mortgage). For assistance researching liens you may consult with a title research company or attorney.