| Assessor: | Steven Weed, Town of Bar Harbor, 93 Cottage Street Bar Harbor, ME 04609-1400 E-mail: assessor@barharbormaine.gov Phone: (207) 288-3320 FAX: (207) 288-3032 Office Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday |
| Tax Collector: | Sarah Gilbert, Town of Bar Harbor, 93 Cottage Street-Finance Department Bar Harbor, ME 04609-1400 E-mail: collector@barharbormaine.gov Phone: (207) 288-5096 FAX: (207) 288-4468 Office Hours: 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday |
The Town Assessors Office is responsible for discovering, listing, equalizing and valuing all taxable property, real and personal, within the Town of Bar Harbor for the purpose of taxation. These duties and responsibilities are completed annually and must comply with Maine Taxation Statutes. This is accomplished by reviewing deeds, surveys, subdivision plans, mailing of taxpayer list declaration forms, building permits, etc. Site inspections for new permits and verification of current data is important to the determination of value. Data entry of all property changes of ownership and/or value is required for the preparation of the tax roll. The tax roll is then committed to the Tax Collector for collection of taxes to raise funds for the budgets approved by the Town Council, School Board, and County.
The Assessor's Office is a clearinghouse of information for property owners, title companies, real estate brokers, attorneys and appraisers, as well as other Town departments. It maintains historical and current data on each property, such as ownership, parcel boundaries, land and structure inventories, property characteristics and exemptions for institutions and individuals.
To search for a property online click here: Assessor's Database
2007 Tax Commitment
download the entire parcel listing as an Excel spreadsheet click here.
Click here for the Vision Appraisal Technology Taxpayer Information Site
Maine Real Estate Transfer Tax Declarations
To view or download Transfer Tax Declarations by month click here.
Property Tax Exemption
You may qualifiy for one or more exemptions and additional information is listed on the State of Maine web site.
State of Maine property Tax Exemption application forms (Opens in a new window)
Current use programs
Additional information is listed here
Tax Abatement
Additional information is located here
Property Tax and Rent Refund Program
Eligible Maine residents can receive a partial refund of property taxes and/or rent paid on their primary residence through the Maine Residents Property Tax and Rent Refund Program. Click here to be redirected to the State web site for more information
TAX DEPARTMENT
Real Estate and Personal Property Taxes
Before billing, the assessor determines the value of the property, sets the annual tax rate, and commits the taxes to the tax collector. Taxes are generally committed during August, with bills issued shortly thereafter. Taxes are due in two installments, one in late September and one in late March. Reminder notices are mailed approximately thirty days prior to the 2nd Installment Due Date.
| Tax Rates: | 2004 -- $12.40 per $1,000 valuation 2005 -- $ 12.60 per $1,000 valuation 2006 -- $ 8.50 per $1,000 valuation 2007 -- $ 8.77 per $1,000 valuation |
| Taxes Due: | 2007 Taxes: September 28, 2007 (First Half) March 31, 2008 (Second Half) |
| Interest: | 12.00% per annum for 2007 taxes Starts October 1, 2007 First Half Starts April 1, 2008 Second Half |
| Discount: | A 2% discount is applied to the second half installment if paid by the first due date. |
| Payment: | Payments are accepted by cash or check from 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. in the Town of Bar Harbor's Municipal Building in the Finance Department or by mail to: |
| Town of Bar Harbor
93 Cottage Street Bar Harbor, Maine 04609-1400 (See this site in the future for news regarding electronic payment capabilities!) |
| Information/Address Changes: | Questions regarding your tax bill, payments, address changes, etc. may be directed to the Tax Collector's Office during the same hours at the same address; or by telephone at (207) 288-5096. (Questions regarding your property value should be directed to the Assessor's Office, also located in the Municipal Building at (207) 288-3320.) |
Delinquent Real Estate Taxes/Notices/Liens/Foreclosures
When a taxpayer fails to pay the entire real estate tax obligation within eight months after commitment, by law, the tax collector will record a lien at the Hancock County registry of Deeds. Before the lien is recorded, the taxpayer will receive a 30-Day Notice of Demand (A $3.00 demand fee and certified mailing fees are added to the account). This notice conveys the collector's intention to place a lien and gives the taxpayer a 30-day opportunity to pay the tax. If the tax is left unpaid, within 10 days after the end of the 30-day period, the tax collector will record a tax lien certificate. A copy of the lien is given to the town treasurer, to each record holder of mortgage on the real estate, and any unassessed record of owner. (A $36.00 processing fee is added to the account.) The taxpayer has an 18-month period in which to redeem the property. If the obligation is left unpaid, thirty to forty-five days prior to the end of the redemption period the treasurer will notify the person named on the tax lien, each mortgage holder, and any unassessed owner(s) of the impending automatic foreclosure. If the obligation is paid in full (and all other taxes are current), a discharge of mortgage will be recorded at the Hancock County Registry of Deeds, releasing that lien.
Dates to Note:
*2005 Unpaid Taxes foreclosed on December 30, 2007
*2006 Unpaid Taxes will automatically foreclose on December 30, 2007
*2007 Unpaid Taxes will be placed on lien June, 2008.
Other info: Payments are applied in the following order, to the oldest outstanding balances first: Interest, Accrued Interest, Lien Fees, and Principal.
You may sign up for the town's Tax Club Payment Plan to pay your taxes monthly. Payments without interest are spread over the twelve-month period July through June. Please contact the tax collector's office for more information regarding this plan.