TREASURER

Karen Burns– Township Treasurer
231-882-4411, Ext. 105
Email: treasurer@benzoniatownship.gov

The Township Treasurer is a voting member of the Township Board of Trustees
Statutory Duties of the Treasurer include:

  • Collects delinquent personal property tax
  • Collects mobile home specific tax
  • Collects Real & Personal property taxes
  • Deposits Township revenues in approved depositories
  • Invests Township Fund in approved investment vehicles
  • Issues Township checks
  • Keeps an account of township receipts (revenue) and expenditures
  • Responsible for jeopardy assessments in collecting property tax
  • Must appoint a deputy
  • Must post a surety bond

Karen Burns– Township Treasurer
231-882-4411, Ext. 14
treasurer@benzoniatownship.org

The Township Treasurer is a voting member of the Township Board of Trustees
Statutory Duties of the Treasurer include:

  • Collects delinquent personal property tax
  • Collects mobile home specific tax
  • Collects Real & Personal property taxes
  • Deposits Township revenues in approved depositories
  • Invests Township Fund in approved investment vehicles
  • Issues Township checks
  • Keeps an account of township receipts (revenue) and expenditures
  • Responsible for jeopardy assessments in collecting property tax
  • Must appoint a deputy
  • Must post a surety bond

DOCS-ON-DEMAND

CLICK LINKS BELOW

“By statute, the township treasurer is required to receive and take charge of all funds belonging to the township or which are required by law to be paid into the township treasury and to pay over and account for the funds according to law or township board decision. The treasurer is the township’s agent for collecting taxes.” Michigan Townships Association


INSTRUCTIONS FOR PAYING YOUR TAXES

Statement of Right to Appeal/non-Principal Residence Only “You have the right to appear at the July and/or December Boards of Review for principal residence and agricultural exemptions. Call the Assessor at 231-881-4000 or email at townshipassessing@gmail.com to be put on the schedule for July and/or December Boards of Review.”


NOTICE: While the township offices are closed on Fridays we do accept payment through the mail, using the postmark date (for summer and winter original due dates only), by drop box, located near the entrance to the Township Hall, or by e-check or credit card. Postmarks are not allowed for February 28th due date. Credit card and e-check payments require a service fee that goes directly to the facilitating company.


Late Payment of Taxes: On March 1st of each year, the prior year’s property taxes are to be paid to Benzie County Treasurer, 448 Court Place, Beulah, MI 49617. Please call that office at 231-882-0011 to obtain your correct balance due with penalties and interest.

General Tax Information

1. Summer taxes may be paid July 1st through the due date identified on the front of the bill without interest. Exception: properties with summer deferred forms on file in the office. These forms MUST be filled out annually. (find form linked above)
2. 1% interest will be assessed on the day following the due date. The administration fee is not included in the interest calculations.
3. Beginning October 1st, an additional 1% per month will be added on the first day of each month to the unpaid balance. Please call the office for amount due if paid after the initial due date.
4. Partial payments are accepted any time after July 1st.
5. An additional 3% penalty will be added after the February winter tax due date on ALL properties.
6. On MARCH 1st, all taxes on REAL PROPERTY are considered delinquent and must be paid to:

Benzie County Treasurer
448 Court Place
Beulah, MI 49617

The County Treasurer will charge additional fees each month.
You may phone them at 231-882-0011 for your correct pay-off amount.

1. Winter taxes may be paid December 1st through the due date identified on the front of this bill without penalty.
2. Partial payments are accepted any time after December 1st.
3. A 3% penalty will be added after the February winter tax due date.
4. On MARCH 1st, all taxes on REAL PROPERTY are considered delinquent and must be paid to:

Benzie County Treasurer
448 Court Place
Beulah, MI 49617

The County Treasurer will charge additional fees each month.
You may phone them at 231-882-0011 for your correct pay-off amount.

1. Please check your property description. The township is not responsible if taxes are paid on the wrong description. If there is an error, contact the Township Assessor.
2. Failure to send or receive a tax notice/bill shall not in any way prejudice the right to collect or enforce the payment of any tax. Please make sure your address is correct.
3. Check processing information: In accordance with Federal Reserve Board guidelines, personal checks that you send us for payment may be processed electronically. This means that checks generally clear faster, banks no longer return checks and bank statements are valid proof of payment.
4. If summer taxes, or any part of summer taxes, are not paid by the time the winter tax bills are sent, you will find a reminder message on the top half of the winter bill under current amount due. The remaining balance is subject to an additional 1% per month fee until paid in full. Please call the office for the amount due if paid after the end of the month.
5. Checks are accepted only as conditional payment of taxes. If the bank does not honor a check, a second attempt will be made to deposit this check. If returned a second time, the tax is considered unpaid and will be restored to the tax roll. At this time a new bill will be sent to you. A service charge may be applied to checks returned from the bank.
6. Credit Card / e-check payments may be made via benzoniatownship.gov, in the Treasurer’s office or by phone. Please be aware that there is a fee that is assessed by the facilitating company to use a credit card / e-check. This fee does not come back to the township.
7. Taxes on property are calculated on the Taxable Value, for the calendar year (January 1st-December 31st) for which they are issued.
8. You have the right to appear at the July and/or December Boards of Review for principal residence and/or agricultural exemptions. To appeal, call the assessor 231-881-4000 or email her at townshipassessing@gmail.com immediately upon receipt of your tax bill.

By law, interest will be assessed on taxes not paid by the due date. However, payment of summer taxes may be deferred without penalty or interest until the day winter taxes are due in February for the principal residence of any taxpayer who meets the following:
1. Senior Citizen 62 years or older; OR paraplegic or quadriplegic, OR Totally and Permanently Disabled, OR an eligible serviceperson(widow(er)), eligible veteran(widow(er)), OR blind
2. and in either situation, the household income does not exceed $40,000 per year. Applications for Deferment are available at the link on the the left side of this page or at the Treasurer’s Office and must be returned to our office by Sept. 15th.

If your taxes are escrowed a copy of this bill has been sent to your escrow/mortgage company. Since YOU are responsible for the payment of this tax bill it would be advised that you send a copy of this tax bill with your next mortgage payment or verify that your taxes have been paid by or before the due date. Please call if you have questions.

Paying Taxes Online

We now offer the ability for you to view your own tax information, free of charge. Click on the ‘Property Search’ tab up at the top of any page. Or by clicking the button below. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Personal property taxes are taxes charged to businesses. The tax is placed on the businesses equipment (except equipment licenses with the state) that is used in business and depreciated on income tax.

If your business has less than $80,000.00 in equipment, you can apply to be tax exempt from personal property taxes, HOWEVER, you need to fill out the form yearly to keep the exemption.

The Board of Review hears disputes on the current year assessment. If the Board of Review lowers your taxable or assessed value for the year you are disputing, the value can still go up for the following year.

Yes, Benzonia Township accepts partial payments on property taxes.

From the front page of our Web site, in the Property Tax Services and Information box, click on the logo for Benzonia Township Property Tax Services (or click here). You will need to create a password and login to get to your parcel information. From there you can see when taxes were paid and print that information out. Or email the Treasurer and request a receipt.