Tax bills mailed; first-half due Jan 15

posted on 12/13/2024

City of Dover property tax bills have been mailed to property owners who should begin receiving them today, Friday, Dec. 13. The first half of the tax bill is due on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025; the second half is due on Monday, June 2, 2025.

Tax bills can be paid by mail, online at https://www.dover.nh.gov/services/online-services/payment/, or in person at the City Clerk/Tax Collector’s office, located in City Hall, 288 Central Ave., during regular hours.

The online payment accepts Visa and Mastercard, subject to a transaction fee of 2.5% of the total payment. Electronic check payments (ACH) are also accepted with a $1 transaction fee. The payment processor collects the transaction fees.

Dover’s tax rate, set at $18.17 per $1,000 of assessed valuation by the New Hampshire Department of Revenue on Dec. 4, includes four sections: Municipal ($6.44), County ($1.75), Local Education ($8.88), and State Education ($1.10). The rate is determined by the total amount needed to be raised by taxes ($116,585,758) divided by the municipality’s total valuation ($6,424,029,970). The amount to be raised by taxes is determined by the adopted budget for each section, with the city collecting the County portions ($11,224,778) and the State Education portions ($6,937,255) on the county and state’s behalf. The Municipal ($41,389,491) and Local Education ($57,034,234) are based on the City of Dover’s adopted fiscal year 2025 budget for the General Fund. The Municipal section is for all non-school departments.

The city’s total assessed valuation of $6,647,662,770 is based on the City of Dover’s recent citywide valuation. The city annually reviews and updates property assessments to market value to ensure equity in the tax base across the various property classes, such as residential and commercial. Property taxation fairness requires properties to be assessed based on their market value. Real estate values naturally change due to market conditions, and rarely at the same rate or for the same reason. The Tax Assessment Office’s citywide valuation includes a comprehensive review of real estate market changes that affect property values. In addition, assessment staff inspects and reviews about 20% of all properties annually on a rotating basis. As stipulated by state law, property valuations reflect market conditions as the property existed on April 1, 2024, the first day of the 2024 property tax year in New Hampshire.

Property owners may appeal their property tax assessment for the 2024 tax year by filing an abatement application with the Tax Assessment Office by March 1, 2025. Please note: filing an abatement application does not stay the collection of taxes, and taxes should be paid as assessed. If an abatement is granted, the city will issue a refund with interest.

For more information, contact the Finance Department at 603-516-6030.