Mount Vernon, NY property tax is billed as a combined rate covering the city, Westchester County, and the Mount Vernon City School District, each charged per $1,000 of assessed value. In 2023, the most recent year with a full published breakdown, the total came to $1,597.61 per $1,000, with the school district the largest piece at $955.45. The city’s proposed 2026 city-only rate is $547.73 per $1,000, up from $465.39 in 2023; county and school figures for 2026 are set separately and have not yet been combined on the city’s rate page.1Mount Vernon, NY. Property Tax Rates2Mount Vernon, NY. 2026 Proposed Annual Estimate
How Your Bill Is Calculated
Three separate levies make up what you owe: the City of Mount Vernon tax, Westchester County taxes (including a sewer charge and refuse fee), and the Mount Vernon City School District tax. City and county charges appear together on one bill. School taxes arrive separately on their own cycle, and since 2020 the district has collected them directly, so questions about the school portion go to the district rather than City Hall.1Mount Vernon, NY. Property Tax Rates
The math is simple. Divide the assessed value by $1,000, then multiply by the applicable rate. A property assessed at $10,000 under the 2023 total rate of $1,597.61 would owe roughly $15,976 across all three levies. The 2023 rate broke down this way per $1,000 of assessed value:
- City: $465.39
- County: $136.87
- County sewer: $24.66
- Refuse: $15.24
- School: $955.45
If you own a multi-family building with more than three units or a commercial property, a different (higher) Non-Homestead rate applies instead of the Homestead rate used for one-, two-, and three-family homes, condominiums originally built as condos, owner-occupied separately-assessed mobile homes, farm homes, and small residential vacant lots.3New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. The Homestead Tax Option Real Property Tax Law Article 19 Section 1903 The city’s published rate page does not currently separate the two rates, so call the Assessor’s Office at 914-665-2325 to confirm which applies to your parcel.
Payment Due Dates
City, county, and school taxes run on different calendars. Mark all five dates:
- City taxes, first installment: January 31
- County taxes: April 30
- City taxes, second installment: July 31
- School taxes, first installment: due in July (bills mailed mid-June)
- School taxes, second installment: due in January (bills mailed mid-December)
City and county due dates come from the city’s Pay Property Tax page.4Mount Vernon, NY. Pay Property Tax The school district collects its installments directly and warns that not receiving a bill in the mail does not extend the deadline.5Mount Vernon City School District. School Taxes
What Happens If You Pay Late
Mount Vernon charges an 8% penalty on the unpaid amount for the first month, plus 1.5% interest for each additional month the balance stays outstanding. Charges stack fast. A $5,000 balance left unpaid for six months would run up $400 in first-month penalties plus roughly $375 in accumulated interest.
Taxes unpaid for two years make the property eligible for a tax lien sale. The city Comptroller advertises delinquent parcels and auctions the liens publicly, and the property owner must then repay the lien purchaser the outstanding taxes plus interest to redeem the property.6City of Mount Vernon, NY. Article XIII Tax Liens7Mount Vernon, NY. TAX LIEN SALE
Exemptions That Can Lower Your Bill
Several state-authorized programs reduce what Mount Vernon homeowners owe. Each has its own eligibility rules, and all exemption applications must be filed with the Assessor’s Office by May 1 to apply to the upcoming tax year.8Mount Vernon, NY. Exemption Applications Requirements Miss the date and you wait a full year.
STAR (School Tax Relief)
STAR reduces the school portion of your bill. Basic STAR is available to homeowners with combined household income of $500,000 or less if receiving the STAR credit, or $250,000 or less under the older STAR exemption.9New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. STAR Eligibility Enhanced STAR is for homeowners 65 and older; for the 2026-2027 school year the income limit is $110,750, based on 2024 tax returns. New applicants generally register for the STAR credit through the state rather than applying locally. If the state sends Form RP-5300-WSC, you have 45 days to respond with income information online.10New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. STAR Resource Center
Senior Citizens Exemption
Homeowners 65 and older may qualify for a reduction in assessed value of up to 50%. State law lets localities set the income ceiling between $3,000 and $50,000, and sliding-scale options can extend partial benefits up to $58,400. The exact Mount Vernon threshold depends on what the city and school district have adopted, so confirm the current limit with the Assessor’s Office before applying.11New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. Senior Citizens Exemption
Veterans Exemptions
Mount Vernon offers the Alternative Veterans Exemption and a separate version for Cold War veterans.8Mount Vernon, NY. Exemption Applications Requirements Under the Alternative Veterans Exemption, wartime veterans get a 15% reduction in assessed value, with an additional 10% for combat zone service and a further reduction equal to half of any VA-rated service-connected disability percentage. The city sets maximum dollar caps on those reductions.12New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. Alternative Veterans Exemption
How to Apply
Deliver applications in person or by mail to: Assessor’s Office, One Roosevelt Square, Room 8, Mount Vernon, NY 10550. Gather supporting documents first: proof of age, income records, military discharge papers (DD-214) for veterans exemptions, and proof the property is your primary residence. After review, the assessor sends a notice of approval or denial before the final roll is published, and an approved reduction appears on your next bill.
Challenging Your Assessment
If your assessed value looks too high relative to what similar homes are selling for, Mount Vernon has a structured grievance process with firm deadlines.
File an RP-524 Before Grievance Day
Obtain Form RP-524 (Complaint on Real Property Assessment) from the Assessor’s Office or the state Tax Department.13New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. RP-524 Complaint on Real Property Assessment You will need the property’s tax map number, the current assessed value from the assessment roll, and evidence that the assessment exceeds fair market value. Recent appraisals, comparable sales within the last year or two, and photographs of conditions that affect value tend to be the strongest proof.
File the completed form with the Assessor’s Office or the Board of Assessment Review before the Board meets. For 2026, Mount Vernon has scheduled Grievance Day hearings for June 16, 2026.14Mount Vernon, NY. 2026 Grievance Applications and Process The tentative assessment roll is available to the public by June 1, which leaves a narrow window to review your assessment and file.15Mount Vernon, NY. Assessment The Board has until the roll is finalized on August 1 to issue all determinations, which it mails in writing.
Small Claims Assessment Review
If the Board denies your grievance and you still believe the assessment is wrong, you can escalate to a Small Claims Assessment Review for a $30 filing fee.16New York Courts. Small Claims Assessment Review SCAR is available only to owners of one-, two-, or three-family homes that are owner-occupied and used exclusively as residences. The equalized value generally cannot exceed $450,000, though owners of higher-value properties may still qualify if the requested reduction is 25% or less of the assessed value. You must have filed the RP-524 with the Board first.17New York State Senate. Real Property Tax Law Section 730
A specially trained hearing officer reviews the market data and decides whether the assessment is excessive or unequal compared to similar properties. If you win, the court issues an order directing the city to correct its records and refund any overpayment. Commercial buildings and non-owner-occupied homes do not qualify for SCAR and would need to pursue a full Article 7 proceeding in state court instead.