PROPERTY TAX REFUND CHECKS MAILED TO ALMOST EVERY MUNICIPALITY IMPACTED

Office of Erie County Comptroller close to completing process of sending nearly 200,000 checks to taxpayers across Erie County that were overcharged

(ERIE COUNTY, NY) –The Office of Erie County Comptroller issued refund checks to nearly every community in Erie County impacted by the county’s miscalculation of how much homeowners owed in property taxes. Almost 200,000 Erie County taxpayers were overcharged by the Division of Real Property on their 2020 property tax bills.  

To date taxpayers in 24 of the 26 affected communities have received 126,613 refunds which, in most cases are in amounts of $20 or less.  The City of Buffalo and Town of Amherst will be sent refunds next.

Taxpayers were overcharged $4.4 million.  The cost to issue the refund checks is $205,322, which includes the cost of printing the checks, envelopes, print cartridges and postage.  About 2,200 rebate checks have been returned.  In some cases, the recipient is now deceased or has moved.  For those taxpayers who overpaid $5 or less on their 2020 property tax bill, they will receive a credit in next year’s bill.

The Comptroller’s office has issued checks to the following impacted municipalities:  Town of Cheektowaga-23,390,  Town of Tonawanda-20,353,  Town of Hamburg-14,514,  Town of Lancaster-8,779,  Town of Clarence-8,545, Town of Grand Island-7,282, Town of Orchard Park-5,962,  City of Tonawanda-5,304, Village of Kenmore-5,119,   Village of Depew-4,319,  Town of Evans-3,446,  Village of Hamburg-3,184,  Town of West Seneca-3,174, Town of Aurora-2,622,  Village of Lancaster-2,273, Village of East Aurora-1,750,  Town of Alden-1,676, Village of Sloan-1,088,  Town of Elma-1,077, Village of Orchard Park-761, Village of Blasdell-728,  Village of Alden-515,  Village of Angola-408, City of Lackawanna-344.

“We are asking people to please cash their property tax rebate check. Our office is still getting flooded with calls.  Many are unsure what to do with a check for this small amount.  Some even think it’s a scam. It is legitimate. The county overcharged you. Please cash the check. To taxpayers in Amherst and Buffalo: checks will be sent to your Town and City next.  When you receive your rebate please cash it right away,” said Erie County Comptroller Stefan I. Mychajliw Jr.

 For a pdf of release, click HERE

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