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Updated 2025 Tax Year

Seneca County
Property Tax Guide

Everything you need to know about property taxes in Seneca County, NY. Rates, due dates, exemptions, and how it affects your monthly payment.

10 Official Sources
8 min read
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Quick Facts
Tax Rate
$4.19 per $1,000 assessed value (county portion only), total rates vary by municipality and school district
Exemptions
6+ Available
Section 1

How Property Tax Works

Seneca County, New York operates on a property tax system that funds essential county services, local schools, and municipal operations. For FY 2025-2026, the county property tax rate is $4.19 per $1,000 of assessed value, representing a significant 25.83% increase from the previous year's rate of $3.33 per $1,000. This rate funds county government operations, but property owners also pay additional taxes for school districts, town/city services, and special districts.

Your total property tax bill will vary significantly based on your specific location within Seneca County, as different municipalities, school districts, fire districts, and other special taxing districts each levy their own rates. The county portion is just one component of your total property tax obligation. Property taxes in Seneca County are assessed annually and fund critical services including education, public safety, infrastructure maintenance, and local government operations.

Section 2

What Makes Up Your Tax Bill

ComponentRate per $1,000DescriptionLevy Year
County Tax$4.19Seneca County operations, servicesFY 2025-2026
School TaxVaries by districtLocal school district fundingVaries
Town/City TaxVaries by municipalityMunicipal services, local governmentVaries
Fire DistrictVaries by districtFire protection servicesVaries
Library DistrictVaries by districtPublic library servicesVaries
Water/SewerVaries by districtUtility services (where applicable)Varies

Note: The $4.19 county rate represents only the county portion of your total property tax bill. Your actual total effective rate will be higher when school taxes, municipal taxes, and special district assessments are included. Rates vary significantly by location within Seneca County due to different combinations of special taxing districts.

Section 3

When Are Property Taxes Due?

For the 2025/2026 tax year in Seneca County, property taxes are due in two installments:

Pro tip: If you pay through mortgage escrow, your lender splits these payments across your monthly mortgage. If you pay directly, set calendar reminders to avoid late penalties.
Section 4

Supplemental Tax Bills

Supplemental taxes in Seneca County are additional property tax assessments that occur when there are changes to property ownership, improvements, or new construction during the tax year. These supplements ensure that property taxes are properly allocated based on current property conditions and ownership.

Supplemental taxes are typically triggered by: new construction or additions to existing properties, change in property ownership, removal of tax exemptions, or corrections to assessments discovered after the initial tax roll is prepared. The supplemental tax is calculated by applying the current tax rates to the change in assessed value, prorated for the portion of the tax year affected.

Example: If you complete a $50,000 home addition in July (halfway through the tax year), and it increases your assessed value by $50,000, your supplemental tax would be approximately: $50,000 × $4.19/$1,000 × 0.5 (half year) = $104.75 for the county portion alone, plus additional amounts for school and municipal taxes.

Example Calculation

Example 1: $300,000 Home

  • Market Value: $300,000
  • Assessed Value: $300,000 (100% assessment)
  • STAR Credit Applied: -$1,200 (estimated, requires application)
  • Net Taxable Value: $298,800
  • County Tax Only: $298,800 × $4.19/$1,000 = $1,252
  • Estimated Total Annual Tax: $4,500-6,000 (including school/municipal)
  • Estimated Monthly (with escrow): $375-500

Example 2: $600,000 Home

  • Market Value: $600,000
  • Assessed Value: $600,000
  • STAR Credit Applied: -$1,200 (requires application)
  • Net Taxable Value: $598,800
  • County Tax Only: $598,800 × $4.19/$1,000 = $2,509
  • Estimated Total Annual Tax: $9,000-12,000
  • Estimated Monthly (with escrow): $750-1,000

Example 3: $1,000,000 Home

  • Market Value: $1,000,000
  • Assessed Value: $1,000,000
  • Enhanced STAR (if eligible): -$2,400 (seniors, requires application)
  • Net Taxable Value: $997,600
  • County Tax Only: $997,600 × $4.19/$1,000 = $4,180
  • Estimated Total Annual Tax: $15,000-20,000
  • Estimated Monthly (with escrow): $1,250-1,667

Note: All tax credits require separate applications and are not automatically applied. Total taxes include school, municipal, and special district taxes beyond the county portion shown.

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Section 5

Escrow & Property Taxes

Most mortgage lenders in Seneca County require property tax escrow accounts, where you pay 1/12 of your estimated annual property tax bill with each monthly mortgage payment. Your lender collects these funds and pays your property taxes directly when they become due in mid-January.

Property tax bills are mailed in mid-January and are due by February 15 without penalty. If you have an escrow account, your lender should receive and pay the bill automatically. However, it's important to verify that payments are made on time, as you remain ultimately responsible for the taxes even with an escrow account. Lenders typically analyze your escrow account annually and may adjust your monthly payment if tax amounts change significantly.

If your property taxes increase substantially (like the recent 25.83% county rate increase), your lender may require you to make up any escrow shortage through increased monthly payments or a lump sum payment. You should receive an annual escrow analysis statement showing how your payments were applied and any adjustments needed for the coming year.

How HonestCasa Helps
  • Understand whether your escrow is set correctly
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Section 6

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: When are property taxes due in Seneca County for FY 2025-2026? A: Property tax bills are mailed in mid-January and due by February 15 without penalty. If the due date falls on a weekend or holiday, payment is due the next business day.

Q: What tax credits are available and do they require applications? A: The main credits include STAR (School Tax Relief) for primary residences, Enhanced STAR for seniors 65+, Senior Citizens Exemption, and Veterans Exemption. ALL of these require separate applications and are not automatic - you must apply through your local assessor's office.

Q: How does the STAR credit work? A: STAR is a tax credit that reduces your school tax portion (not county taxes). It requires annual application and provides approximately $1,200-2,400 in tax relief depending on your eligibility. Enhanced STAR is available for seniors with income limitations.

Q: When do I need to apply for STAR credit? A: Applications are typically due by March 1st for the following tax year, but deadlines vary by municipality. In some Seneca County towns like Covert and South Seneca, you must switch to STAR by two weeks prior to July 1st.

Q: How often are properties reassessed? A: New York State requires periodic reassessments, but the schedule varies by municipality within Seneca County. Contact your local assessor's office for your specific reassessment cycle and appeal deadlines.

Q: What happens if I pay late? A: Late payments incur penalties and interest charges. The penalty structure varies by municipality, but typically starts at 2-3% per month after the February 15 deadline.

Q: Can I pay property taxes online? A: Many municipalities in Seneca County offer online payment options. Check with your specific tax collector's office or visit the Seneca County website for available online payment systems.

Q: Why did my tax rate increase so much this year? A: The Seneca County portion increased 25.83% for FY 2025-2026 (from $3.33 to $4.19 per $1,000) due to budget requirements approved by the Board of Supervisors. This affects only the county portion - school and municipal portions are set separately.

Q: How do special districts affect my tax bill? A: Your total tax bill includes county, school, municipal, and any applicable special district taxes (fire, library, water/sewer). The combination varies significantly by location within Seneca County, which is why tax rates differ between neighboring properties.

Q: What if I disagree with my property assessment? A: You can file a grievance with your local Board of Assessment Review, typically during May. Contact your municipal assessor's office for specific deadlines and procedures for assessment appeals.

Verified Sources

Backed by 10 Official Government Sources

Every fact in this guide is sourced from official county, state, and federal documents.

01
County
Seneca County Board of Supervisors Announces...senecacountyny.gov
02
County
Seneca County Releases 2026 Tentative Budget ...senecacountyny.gov
03
County
Real Property Tax – Seneca County, New Yorksenecacountyny.gov
04
County
Deadline to switch to STAR by municipality: Seneca Countytax.ny.gov
05
State
SEN Financial Statementssenecacountyny.gov
06
State
Exemptions from Real Property Taxation in New York Statetax.ny.gov
07
Local Lawssenecacountyny.gov
08
County
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS SENECA COUNTYsenecacountyny.gov
09
Tax Doc
Volume 8 - Opinions of Counsel SBEA No. 53 - Tax.NY.govtax.ny.gov
10
State
Bill Search and Legislative Information | New York State ...assembly.state.ny.us
All sources verified as of 2025 Tax Year

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