A home in Sag Harbor carries a layered property tax bill: a village levy on top of town, county, and school district charges set by whichever township the parcel sits in. On the Southampton side of the village, the non-village levies for the 2025–2026 fiscal year add up to roughly $5.74 per $1,000 of assessed value, with the Sag Harbor School District alone accounting for $4.6176 of that.1Town of Southampton. 2025-2026 Tax Rate Sheet The village bills its own tax separately, splitting payment into two installments due July 1 and November 1.2Village of Sag Harbor. 2026 Village Tax Payments – Due Dates and Payment Options
Why the Bill Depends on Which Side of the Village You’re On
Sag Harbor is an incorporated village that straddles two townships in Suffolk County: the Town of Southampton and the Town of East Hampton.3Encyclopedia Britannica. Sag Harbor Every property owner pays the same village tax and the same school district tax. But the town-level charges, special district fees, and some county allocations differ depending on which township the parcel falls within. Before you can estimate what you owe, you need to know which town your address is in.
2025–2026 Tax Rates on the Southampton Side
Southampton publishes an annual sheet listing every levy that hits a Sag Harbor property. For 2025–2026, the rates per $1,000 of assessed value are:1Town of Southampton. 2025-2026 Tax Rate Sheet
- Sag Harbor School District: $4.6176
- General Town: $0.4744
- Sag Harbor Library: $0.3616
- Suffolk County General: $0.1533
- New York State Real Property Tax Law: $0.0561
- Sag Harbor Museums: $0.0285
- Southampton Town Trustees: $0.0261
- Suffolk County Community College: $0.0154
- Out of County Tuition: $0.0038
Together those non-village levies come to about $5.74 per $1,000. The village then bills its own levy on top. Properties on the East Hampton side share the school, library, and museum lines but carry different town-level rates set by East Hampton.
New York calculates property taxes against assessed value, not market value. The town assessor sets the assessed figure, and the village applies its rate to that same number rather than running its own appraisal.4New York State Senate. New York Real Property Tax Law 305 – Assessment Methods and Standard One assessment drives every layer of the bill.
When Village Taxes Are Due
The village fiscal year runs June 1 through May 31. Tax bills go up on the village’s online portal on June 1. The first installment is due by July 1 and the second by November 1.2Village of Sag Harbor. 2026 Village Tax Payments – Due Dates and Payment Options You can pay online at sagharbortax.southamptontownny.gov, by mail, or in person at the Village Clerk’s office at 55 Main Street.5Town of Southampton. Village of Sag Harbor eTax
When Town, County, and School Taxes Are Due
Town, school, and county taxes are payable to the local town tax receiver from December 1 through May 31. The first half can be paid through January 10 with no penalty. After January 10, a penalty of 1 percent per month is added to the first half. The second half is due by May 10.6Suffolk County. Information for Taxpayers
What a Late Payment Costs
After May 31, any unpaid town, county, or school taxes move from the local receiver to the Suffolk County Comptroller. A 5 percent penalty is added at that point, plus interest at 1 percent per month calculated retroactively from February 1. Interest runs on the combined total of the tax and the 5 percent penalty, so the balance grows quickly.7Suffolk County Government. Taxpayer FAQ
If taxes remain unpaid by August 31, another $20 advertising fee is added, because the county begins publishing delinquent parcels in local newspapers. If the balance is still outstanding at the tax lien sale, typically held in December, the County Comptroller sells a lien on the property to the County of Suffolk.7Suffolk County Government. Taxpayer FAQ
After the lien sale you can still redeem the property by paying the full lien amount plus accrued interest and any later taxes owed. The redemption window is 36 months from the date of sale for one-, two-, or three-family homes, and 12 months for all other property types. If that window closes without payment, the county issues a tax deed and the former owner loses title.7Suffolk County Government. Taxpayer FAQ
Exemptions That Lower What You Owe
New York offers several programs that reduce the assessed value used to calculate your taxes. Applications generally need to be on file with the town assessor by March 1, the taxable status date in most towns.
STAR (School Tax Relief)
STAR reduces the school portion of the bill, which matters because the school levy is by far the largest line item. Basic STAR is available on an owner-occupied primary residence where the combined household income of owners and resident spouses is $500,000 or less for the STAR credit, or $250,000 or less for the STAR exemption.8New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. STAR Eligibility Enhanced STAR is a larger benefit for homeowners aged 65 or older; the income limit for the 2026–2027 school year is $110,750.9New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. Types of STAR New York’s tax department has indicated that beginning in 2026, eligible seniors who already receive Basic STAR will be upgraded to Enhanced STAR automatically.
Veterans Exemption
Under the alternative veterans exemption, qualifying wartime veterans get a 15 percent reduction in assessed value. Combat-zone service adds another 10 percent, and a service-connected disability adds a further reduction equal to half the disability rating.10New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. Alternative Veterans Exemption Each percentage is capped at a maximum dollar amount set by the local jurisdiction, so actual savings depend on what Southampton, East Hampton, or the village has adopted.
Senior Citizens Exemption
Separate from Enhanced STAR, homeowners 65 and older with limited income may qualify for a senior citizens exemption that reduces assessed value by up to 50 percent for county, town, and school taxes. The income threshold for the full exemption and the sliding scale above it are set by each municipality that adopts the program. Income slightly above the full-exemption limit can still qualify for a partial reduction.11New York State Senate. New York Real Property Tax Law 467 – Persons Sixty-Five Years of Age or Over
Challenging Your Assessment
If your assessed value looks high compared to what the home would actually sell for, you can challenge it. The challenge starts administratively and, if denied, can move to a Small Claims proceeding. Solid evidence of comparable sales is what carries the case.
Filing a Grievance
Submit Form RP-524 to your town’s Board of Assessment Review by the date the board meets to hear complaints. In most Suffolk County towns, that date is the third Tuesday of May. The form must be received by that date, not just postmarked.12New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. General Information and Instructions for Filing Complaints on Real Property Assessments Supporting evidence should include recent comparable sales, and an income capitalization analysis for income-producing property. A professional appraisal strengthens the case and typically costs $450 to $1,400 depending on the property. If you and the assessor agree on a lower figure, you can settle through a stipulation on the form itself. Missing the filing deadline closes off both the administrative review and any court challenge for that assessment year.
Small Claims Assessment Review
If the Board of Assessment Review denies the grievance, owners of one-, two-, or three-family homes used exclusively as residences can file a Small Claims Assessment Review petition with the Suffolk County Clerk. Condominiums generally are not eligible unless they’ve been designated in the homestead class.13Suffolk County. File a Small Claims Assessment Review Petition The filing fee is $30.14New York State Senate. New York Real Property Tax Law 730 Each town assessor sets its own SCAR deadline, so confirm yours before assuming you have time.
Looking Up Your Own Bill
Because rates differ between the Southampton and East Hampton sides and exemptions can shift the number significantly, the most reliable figure comes from your own property record. The Village of Sag Harbor’s online portal lets you search by address, owner name, or account number to see the current village balance and pay it.5Town of Southampton. Village of Sag Harbor eTax For town, county, and school taxes, contact the tax receiver at your town hall in Southampton or East Hampton. Questions about assessed value or exemption eligibility go to the same town’s assessor’s office.