NORTH SALEM, N.Y. - Effective December 24, 2025, The United States Postal Service has made a change in procedure that affects the timing of “machine” postmarks. The change is that the machine postmarks will reflect the date mail is first processed at a regional facility, not when they are dropped in a local mail box. This change in procedure has the impact of potentially causing delays for time-sensitive mail, like tax payments and other bills and filings where postmarks are used to determine timely receipt. The potential delay can be a 1-3-day gap between mailing and official postmark. The impact of this action by the USPS on time sensitive items could lead to penalties mandated by law.
If you are close to the deadline of making a tax payment, go to the post office and request a hand-stamped postmark or pay online or in person.
For your convenience, the Tax Office offers the following payment options:
Discover, MasterCard & Visa Credit Card Payments and Electronic check payments can be made by going to the Town of North Salem website. Click on the "Pay Online Here" prompt. Only a full tax bill payment for the Town Tax, or complete installment payment for the School Tax will be accepted. Penalties will be applied after the due date. Please note there is a third-party convenience fee applied. Be sure to print out your receipt at the end of your transaction. Please also note that an incorrectly entered routing number or account number may not be discovered until 2-5 business days from submission. A payment will be considered late if an error is discovered after the due date, and penalty will be due. Please do not wait until the last few days to make payments to avoid this situation. (Please note that tax payments over $125,000 and out-of-country payments cannot be processed online.)
Online Physical Checks Sent From Your Bank Via Bulk Rate Permits - Homeowners who pay scheduled tax payments via their banks must know that banks send those physical checks with a bulk rate permit. The envelopes due to the bulk rate permit have no postmark . Be sure not to pay this way at the last minute since there is no way to trace the mailing date. Penalty is due if it is received after the last day of interest free collection.
If you mail your payment at the end of the month, be sure there is a timely United States postmark. Postage meter (i.e. Pitney Bowes) and foreign postmarks are not acceptable. When an envelope contains payment of local taxes with no U.S. postmark date, the payment of such taxes is deemed to have been made on the date the payment is received per RPTL 922.
The North Salem Tax Office has a Post Office Box #313 at the North Salem Post Office. Your payment envelopes – with your stamp attached - can be brought to the counter, a postmark applied and if you request, they will be placed directly into Postal Box #313. Be sure to ask the Postal Clerk for assistance.
A drop box marked "Tax Receiver" has been installed at Lobdell House (270 Titicus Road -the building with the red door and wraparound porch) if you wish to drive by and drop off your check in person. Receipts will be sent if your whole bill is returned with the payment or if requested. Be sure to include at least the installment stub. The drop box will be emptied numerous times a day. Feel free to call us at 914-669-5177 to let us know you are placing it in the drop box if that makes you more comfortable and we will come out to remove it shortly after your call. Payments placed in the drop box after business hours on the last day of collection will be returned and penalty applied.
Those who usually pay in cash are requested to please deposit your cash with your bank and forward a check, money order or teller’s check as payment.
Please send your payments in early enough to ensure a timely postmark. Please refer to the Tax Department section on the North Salem Town website at www.northsalemny.gov for other frequently asked questions. Call 914-669-5177 or email kdeluce@northsalemny.gov with other questions or needs.
- Karol DeLuce, Receiver of Taxes
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